Ep 151 - Darren Shand - All Blacks Manager

Talking Performance

This week I am joined by Darren Shand who discusses his background and journey to becoming the All Blacks manager.
He talks about his early days in sports like cricket, hockey, and rafting and shares his transition to working in Canterbury Rugby and eventually taking on the role of All Blacks manager.
He highlights the importance of humility and building a strong team culture. This conversation explores the key themes of leadership and team dynamics within the All Blacks rugby team. The chapters cover topics such as punctuality and accountability, shared leadership, creating an environment of expectations, fostering open communication and trust, encouraging vulnerability and collaboration, the concept of 'disagree and commit', choosing the right leaders, evolving leadership styles, evaluating what works, balancing diversity and unity, navigating decision-making and hierarchy, maintaining well-being in a high-pressure role, and the challenges of decompression and professionalism.
He shares insights on player preparation, creating a supportive environment, empowering players to make decisions, and supporting players in difficult situations.
Darren also reflects on the challenges and growth he experienced during his time with the All Blacks. He emphasizes the importance of building a strong team culture, dealing with adversity and pressure, and accepting the outcome and moving forward. .

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