Leadership Insights

1986 was the year that Jack Charlton took charge of the Irish soccer team and the same year that Alex Ferguson arrived at Old Trafford following unprecedented success with Aberdeen.

Being a fan of Man United and of course our own national team these big characters had a big influence on me as a young and impressionable school-goer across the 80’s and 90’s.

Big Jack would go on to lead the Irish National team for the guts of 10 years taking us to our first major championships in Euro ’88 and to 2 world cups in ’90 and ’94.

Alex Ferguson took 4 years to win a trophy, but when he did, he didn’t stop!? Famously “knocking Liverpool off their f**king perch.

After Jack had departed his post and at the height of Alex Ferguson’s reign another significant leader came to the fore for a lad now out of school and heading into my twenties.? Brian Cody took over Kilkenny in the winter of 1998 with Kilkenny having won only 2 of the previous 15 senior All-Ireland’s, we would go on to win a staggering 11 between 2000 and 2015 under his watch.

Another local leader in the sports arena that has come to prominence over the past 20 years has been Willie Mullins, who this year became the first Irish based trainer to win both the Irish and British National Hunt Horse Racing Championships since Vincent O’ Brien 70 years ago.

These guys have had a major impact on their sport and on people outside of sport, but what makes them special?

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Big Jack had his own “put ‘em under pressure” way of approaching the game which gave the underdog a real chance to compete and ultimately led to the rules of the game being changed with the backpass rule being introduced in order to counteract this “anti-football” approach. ?Imagine, he was having such an impact on his scene that they had to change the rules to lessen his influence.

He had his philosophy and through results captured the imagination of a nation, spawning unprecedented interest in soccer.

That’s surely strong leadership!

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Alex Ferguson had already broken the Old Firm stranglehold on Scottish football, even beating the mighty Real Madrid to win a European trophy, before arriving at a Manchester United that had been in steady decline since Matt Busby had brought the European Cup to Old Trafford in 1968.

So there was no doubt he was coming with proven leadership qualities, he was afforded time that isn’t something managers these days are given and he set about changing the whole culture and building the club on his own philosophies and principles, based on a working class background and an “us against the world” mentality.

What he would go onto achieve will never be replicated again and his influence spread worldwide such became the global reach of the Manchester United brand.

Unquestionable leadership qualities!

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Brian Cody came into the Kilkenny job with no real track record, but stamped his authority on the camp pretty early and only players willing to accept his beliefs and philosophy would be given a jersey.? When Charlie Carter, a big name and captain at the time, pulled out of the squad the possibility of a mutiny was on the cards, however success on the field kept those willing to put in the hard work committed to the cause.? Even TJ Reid got disillusioned with his lack of playing time in his early years to the point where he had to make the choice improve his workrate or leave, thankfully he chose to work harder and has reaped the rewards to become one of the greatest hurlers of all time.

Brian Cody brought the game of hurling to new levels with his leadership!

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Another Kilkenny man that has risen to the top of his game is Willie Mullins.

For a small stable he built up a reputation for winning bumpers, soon he would be competing for the Irish Trainers Championship, now he completely dominates it, has gotten over 100 winners at Cheltenham, has won the British and Irish Trainers Championship this year and has become the winning most trainer of all time overhauling Dermot Weld.

This has been a remarkable rise since the turn of the century.

When faced with the adversity of losing 25% of his horses when he stood his ground in seeking better pay from Michael O’ Leary and Gigginstown he diversified his owner pool and actually expanded rather than downsizing!? Such is the belief he had in his operation and the faith the racing owners had in the WP Mullins brand.

Renowned for his trust in his eye, his mind and his gut, he makes decisions instinctively and delegates responsibility to the enhancement of his operation.

Leader?? You bet ya!

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These guys didn’t follow anyone’s path, they blazed their own trail.

They trusted their own instincts, beliefs and philosophies.

They then built the trust of the key stakeholders in what they were doing.

Then delegate, trust and empower effectively to build an empire.

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While I have great admiration for these guys and draw inspiration from what they achieved, I’m not following in their footsteps.

I’m blazing my own trail.

For those that trust me and my team they know they can count on us, they know we will listen, we will solve and we will deliver.