Is Wallace the problem OR is it the RFC

[pahoffm]

Anyone who wishes to scapegoat Terry as the source of all Tiger ills is merely travelling down the same pathway that has seen the exit of his predecessors without any benefit to Tigerland.

Leadership is shared. It does not reside with any one individual.

My belief is still that cultural improvements need to be more broadly based.

In my last few years of being closer to the RFC, I've seen some great improvements by some individuals working hard.
But the efforts of many are marred by certain individuals who see their own status within the organisation as more important than the RFC succeeding itself. Quite openly I've observed them welcoming on a face to face basis, yet as soon as the back is turned ....
Though remaining silent, I've observed them doing it to me, just as I've seen them doing it to others. To me, this is the cancer that needs to be cured.

Just to restate,

Leadership is essentially about the way we influence those with whom we associate and the outcomes that result.
It is shared by all. It starts at the top and works through all who are a part thereof.

The basis is trust, and too often, when under pressure, the RFC loses trust in each other too quickly.
It means:
1. going beyond self interest for the team
2. talking about increased trust with each other
3. envisioning new possibilities
4. talking optimistically about the future
5. rethinking ideas that have never been questioned before
6. seeking a broad range of perspectives
7. treating each other as individuals , respecting differences
8. listening attentively to each other's concerns

The outcomes from these are:
1. Heightening each others desire to succeed
2. Increasing others' willingness to try harder
3. Meeting each other' needs
4. Meeting results
5. Working with each other that satisfies all.

If or when Terry leaves, if these things don't change, nothing will.


As an aside, heard on the radio.
Harvey should be finished with Freo by June/July.
Laidley will be finished with North then, will move back to WA and assume control of Freo.

See, there are other clubs that have poorer cultures than the Tiges.
So radio would have us believe.

 

[LeeToRainesToRoach]

The basis is trust, and too often, when under pressure, the RFC loses trust in each other too quickly.
It means:
1. going beyond self interest for the team
2. talking about increased trust with each other
3. envisioning new possibilities
4. talking optimistically about the future
5. rethinking ideas that have never been questioned before
6. seeking a broad range of perspectives
7. treating each other as individuals , respecting differences
8. listening attentively to each other's concerns

Interesting post Phantom. But surely people need to possess the above traits when they walk through the door? Is it possible to change such things in a footy club environment?

 

[Massai]

The 'c' word gets thrown up a lot, but what exactly does it mean in our case? Is a group of players responsible for preserving it, or has it become endemic to the entire club? Would Wayne Campbell be able to improve it, or would it require an outsider? How is it responsible for what is basically the same team as 2008 going backwards this year?

In our case, the culture IMHO at Richmond is one of "just do enough". The idea of winning seems have been lost and lost a long time ago, well before Wallace and Frawley came along as coaches. Its been lost from top to bottom. There is no Graeme Richmond around anymore to fear into god into people, no "pigs arse" as John Elliott would say, in other words the leadership from the very top at Richmond has gone. Why can't a Club President lock the doors of the playing room after a bad game and give the players a right bollocking about their performances. No that appears to be the coaches role, WRONG, everyone at Richmond should be able to say quite clearly and without fear or favour what they think.

If we have another bad game today, if I was Gary March, I'd tell TW to stay outside the door, then march right on in and give the players a damn good dose of what he thinks of their efforts. Only then would the coaching staff etc be allowed into the players room.

That said for the Club President to be at the wedding of a mate up on the Gold Coast last weekend when the club was yet to win a game, to me that is not good leadership.

To win respect as a leader, you must FIRSTLY lead from the front come what may, if that means missing a mates wedding because your club's players are not winning on the field so be it. It sends a message quite clearly that the Club President is watching your performance and if you stuff up not only is the coach etc answerable but the players will be directly answerable to the Club President and Board as well, seeing its RFC that pays the players generous salaries. If the President is not available then there should be a Board Member in his place, prepared to do exactly the same thing.

Richmond have to start thinking about winning and what winning entails. This all too often players tend to think I or we've done our bit for 10 minutes on the playing field, sloppy turnovers, no backing up etc, indicates to me, a severe lack of discipline and respect of one player to another player. That can also be corrected by leading by example, its not hard to do, but it will be hard at Richmond because they've become so used to be second best losers. Ben Cousins onfield or training leads by example, it appears Trent Cotchin has those same instincts which with any luck make him into a stand out player, Richo likewise, so you've got 3 top notch players with those ethics inside them, the other players should be told to do the same, anything less NOT ACCEPTABLE. I don't care if Richo does a dummy spit on the field, he busts his guts out and more often than not has pulled the rabbit out of the hat to win a match for the Tigers, whilst the other players go great Richo you've done it again now "we" can relax.

Coaching staff need to lead from the front, that appears to have been lost for years. We've got Wayne Campbell as Mid Field coaching telling a Brownlow Medalist and Grand Final winner how to play in the mid field, come on lets get real here, that tell's me more about how the Richmond coaching staff work then anything else. Sure Campbell was a club captain and best and fairest winner, but he's got absolutely nothing on what Ben Cousins has produced on the field, so why on earth and who the hell came up the idea of having Campbell coaching the mid field guys is absolutely beyond me.

If it were me, I'd simply say to Ben, more salary Ben you're now in charge of the mid fielders. Mid Field Players listen and learn, learn fast because you may just be playing for your future before seasons end.

If anything having Wayne Campbell coaching the mid field with someone like Ben Cousins in it, clearly shows that Richmond have lost their way onfield and off the field, they just don't have a clue about how to go about winning, hence that is why we are where we are on the ladder.

 

[Massai]

Interesting post Phantom. But surely people need to possess the above traits when they walk through the door? Is it possible to change such things in a footy club environment?

No it can be taught to them, I could certainly teach the playing list and coaching staff a few things about leadership in one day, its more the question of whether that individual person that is listening is prepared to take things onboard even if its personal criticism and react the right way by going about correcting whatever they need to do to make themselves a better player or person.

Everyone can learn from everyone else, the trick is to have the necessary motivation and willingness to do whatever it takes to get there. I've got no doubt that there are players at Richmond who will take things onboard and make an effort, I've also got no doubt there are players that won't, so you get ruthless and get rid of them. Games are there to be won, at the very least lost by fighting tooth and nail, if the player hasn't got that sort of "survival" instinct in them its goodbye.

 

[Backbone]

The 'c' word gets thrown up a lot, but what exactly does it mean in our case? Is a group of players responsible for preserving it, or has it become endemic to the entire club? Would Wayne Campbell be able to improve it, or would it require an outsider? How is it responsible for what is basically the same team as 2008 going backwards this year?

From an organisational perspective, culture are a reflection of how core values are reinforced through the behaviours across the organisation and the symbols that reinforce the values and behaviours. This a different way of explaining many of the points outlined in Phanto's email. In Phantom's email the values highlighted (that I can see) are collaboration, respect and trust and many of the items listed are behaviours that align to those values. Values that I expect would also be needed in a sporting club are excellence and integrity.

The fact that the club has not taken a knee jerk reaction to the poor start of the season is a very good sign and aligns to the value of integrity (ie, they're sticking to their processes). It would seem that there hasn't been too much divisive behaviour over the last number of weeks (internally within the club that is), which aligns to the value of collaboration, although Phanto's email below would suggest that this is not necessarily the case.

The culture of the team should not be any different to the culture of the club and if it is, there are problems. As Phanto correctly points out, this needs to come from the leadership wihtin the club, starting from the board, the CEO through to the footy department, all the way down to the players on the rookie list. So, the issue here is that a new coach is unlikely to be able to change the culture of the club, unless they have the complete support of the most senior leaders within the club, and those individual act when others action and behaviour are inconsistent with the desired values of the RFC.

This is a round about way of saying that I agree 100% with Phantom and responding to your email Massai.

Another point on culture ... the right culture is absolutely critical to getting the best out of an organisation, however you still need to have the right people.

 

[pahoffm]

Interesting post Phantom. But surely people need to possess the above traits when they walk through the door? Is it possible to change such things in a footy club environment?

It isn't easy and it doesn't only apply to footy clubs.
In all organisations there is a prevailing culture handed down, generation to generation.

It takes many interventions & boosters to maintain transformation in a culture.

I refer to the following flash that we use regarding such.
http://www.mlq.com.au/flash_development.asp
Those 3 red steps:
1. No support/inhibit
2. Disillusionment
3. Revert back, occur all to often.

A powerful diagram.

It's relevance is that no one individual can overcome a prevailing culture unless the overriding infrastructure is geared, with support interventions & boosters to maintain the transformation.

This is not the job of the coach.
It is the job of those that create the environment within which the coach works.
1. The Football Manager
2. The HR/Psych Manager
3. Those that support.

That's why I have trouble understanding what is going on at present.
Either:
1. There has been a mass breaking of trust, leading to mass disillusionment, or
2. A definite decision to play below our capability has been decided.

How else do you account for losing to Melbourne? A team less developed than us that, suddenly, within a quarter we could almost overrun but didn't.

For me, the concern is what measures will be put in place to ensure real transformation occurs past 2009.
I'm sure many of you think the same way.

Not only in terms of the coach, but everything that goes into supporting him, physical & mental.

 

[Massai]

It isn't easy and it doesn't only apply to footy clubs.
In all organisations there is a prevailing culture handed down, generation to generation.

It takes many interventions & boosters to maintain transformation in a culture.

I refer to the following flash that we use regarding such.
http://www.mlq.com.au/flash_development.asp
Those 3 red steps:
1. No support/inhibit
2. Disillusionment
3. Revert back, occur all to often.

A powerful diagram.

It's relevance is that no one individual can overcome a prevailing culture unless the overriding infrastructure is geared, with support interventions & boosters to maintain the transformation.

This is not the job of the coach.
It is the job of those that create the environment within which the coach works.
1. The Football Manager
2. The HR/Psych Manager
3. Those that support.

That's why I have trouble understanding what is going on at present.
Either:
1. There has been a mass breaking of trust, leading to mass disillusionment, or
2. A definite decision to play below our capability has been decided.

How else do you account for losing to Melbourne? A team less developed than us that, suddenly, within a quarter we could almost overrun but didn't.

For me, the concern is what measures will be put in place to ensure real transformation occurs past 2009.
I'm sure many of you think the same way.

Not only in terms of the coach, but everything that goes into supporting him, physical & mental.

Absolutely spot on couldn't agree more with the above. The big question is whether the RFC board will be prepared to make hard and right decisions after the review or just cover their arses because the elections are coming around???

There is now NO ALTERNATIVE, Richmond MUST CHANGE ITS CULTURE

 

[EastBentleigh Tiger]

Leadership is shared. It does not reside with any one individual.

Absolutely correct Phantom. And that is why we need to develop a "team of leaders" throughout the entire club.

Posted by: Backbone
The culture of the team should not be any different to the culture of the club and if it is, there are problems. As Phanto correctly points out, this needs to come from the leadership wihtin the club, starting from the board, the CEO through to the footy department, all the way down to the players on the rookie list.

Right on the money Backbone. Until we can develop a fresh culture of confidence across the entire club then nothing will change. And the tone for culture starts with leadership at the very top - with the Board. I believe that our cultural problem is so deeply rooted and that so much damage has been done in recent times, that nothing short of a clean-out at board level is called for.

Posted by: rosy23
Thankfully as Richmond members we have the chance to put our hands up for election if we think we can do better or make things happen ourselves. It's very rare that anyone takes advantage of that opportunity. It will be interesting to see what happens this year.

Rosy - don't believe it should come to elections or challenges. Haven't we been there before and gone past that point again? Any honourable board, with the best interests of the club at heart, in the interests of the members & supporters who are the real "owners" of the club, would do as what happened at St. Kilda. They would move on and make way for others with the right credentials to lead the club forward.

 

[the claw]

It isn't easy and it doesn't only apply to footy clubs.
In all organisations there is a prevailing culture handed down, generation to generation.

It takes many interventions & boosters to maintain transformation in a culture.

I refer to the following flash that we use regarding such.
http://www.mlq.com.au/flash_development.asp
Those 3 red steps:
1. No support/inhibit
2. Disillusionment
3. Revert back, occur all to often.

A powerful diagram.

It's relevance is that no one individual can overcome a prevailing culture unless the overriding infrastructure is geared, with support interventions & boosters to maintain the transformation.

This is not the job of the coach.
It is the job of those that create the environment within which the coach works.
1. The Football Manager
2. The HR/Psych Manager
3. Those that support.

That's why I have trouble understanding what is going on at present.
Either:
1. There has been a mass breaking of trust, leading to mass disillusionment, or
2. A definite decision to play below our capability has been decided.

How else do you account for losing to Melbourne? A team less developed than us that, suddenly, within a quarter we could almost overrun but didn't.

For me, the concern is what measures will be put in place to ensure real transformation occurs past 2009.
I'm sure many of you think the same way.

Not only in terms of the coach, but everything that goes into supporting him, physical & mental.

you are missing a very obvious reason for why we lost to melb but if you and others like you want to put the blinkers on who am i to show you.

 

[Rosy]

who am i to show you.

Well asked :hihi

 

[tigers80]

But the efforts of many are marred by certain individuals who see their own status within the organisation as more important than the RFC succeeding itself. Quite openly I've observed them welcoming on a face to face basis, yet as soon as the back is turned ....
Though remaining silent, I've observed them doing it to me, just as I've seen them doing it to others. To me, this is the cancer that needs to be cured.


I find this part interesting...why are these people still part of the RFC...im sure you wouldnt be the only person to notice this sort of behaviour.

 

[Massai]

So FINALLY the Richmond Football player came up with a win. Didn't go, but I watched at 3am this morning on Fox.

The mistakes made, the poor disposal skills displayed, the best out of the worst team's on the field won.

If anyone thinks we'll beat Sydney, they're dreaming.

Its gives Wallace some breathing space, but only just. The players, the young players made a big effort, finally Delidio showed something, Tambling ditto, McMahon actually showed some spine for a change but not often enough.

The club and the playing list essentially still have the same problems and they have to be addressed come season's end. What was outstanding to me anyway, was Richo, supposed to have done a hammy, comes back on the field, creates a couple of contests that resulted in goals to the Tigers and made sure that the scoring gap was wide enough for the Tigers to get up. Now that took guts and its an outstanding piece of leadership and the belief in one's self to made the necessary efforts to win the game. Hopefully a lot of the players took note of Richo's selfless acts and will also copy those acts down the track.

A win is a win is a win, but *smile* there is an awlful lot of hard grinding work to be done by the Richmond Football Club before it can say yes "we're back watch out".

 

[Tigerhart04]

A win is a win is a win, but sh!t there is an awlful lot of hard grinding work to be done by the Richmond Football Club before it can say yes "we're back watch out".

I don't believe anyone is thinking that, but after 4 dismal weeks, the boys showed a little something more last night and we came away with a win. Under the circumstances what did you expect?
As mentioned before, our skills don't go from deplorable to elite in one week, but it's amazing what a little confidence can do to deplorable skills. They were better last night than they've been all year, and the camaraderie shown Cogs last night before and particularly after the game, shows to me a little teamsmanship, the old "all for one, one for all" may have finally clicked.

 

[LeeToRainesToRoach]

I don't believe anyone is thinking that, but after 4 dismal weeks, the boys showed a little something more last night and we came away with a win. Under the circumstances what did you expect?
As mentioned before, our skills don't go from deplorable to elite in one week, but it's amazing what a little confidence can do to deplorable skills. They were better last night than they've been all year, and the camaraderie shown Cogs last night before and particularly after the game, shows to me a little teamsmanship, the old "all for one, one for all" may have finally clicked.

You could see the players' confidence grow as the match progressed. We were annihilated early but I reckon the players looked at the scoreboard going to the quarter time huddle and realised they could match or maybe even beat the opposition. Still plenty of mistakes, but at least they didn't go into their shells.