Does an environmental humanitarian spokesperson fit with being Australian cricket captain?

Buchanan Success Performance Coaching

Does an environmental humanitarian spokesperson fit with being Australian cricket captain?

I read with interest a recent media opportunity Pat Cummins took at a school in India promoting the ideals and work of UNICEF.

There have already been plenty of stories about Pat and his stance on green energy and planet sustainability.

Both are admirable, especially from someone who holds such a ‘high office’ in Australian sport.

Yet right at the moment after the first 3 matches the Australian cricket team appear to be very sluggish and off the pace in their quest to win a Cricket World Cup in India. Even their first win of the tournament against Sri Lanka was not devoid of a certain malaise as the Sri Lankan openers built a very solid foundation of 0/125 in the 22nd over.

I was involved as Head Coach in a number of tournaments including 2 successful World Cups and 20+ series campaigns with two captains, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting. Both men had developing off field interests from girls’ orphanage in India, to Foundations, to publishing, to burgeoning business interests.

However, I did not witness personal interests away from cricket distracting them from the job at hand which was to lead, captain and perform for the Australian cricket team.

Each in his own way led by example. Held himself and all members of the squad and coaching staff to account for their performances. Worked closely with the head coach and others to ensure the team culture had the team ready to meet any challenge.

The question for Pat Cummins as he is the only person who can answer it – are your off-field interests distracting you from being technically, physically, mentally and tactically razor sharp to lead your team, by example and by inspiration?

Importantly for the Australian World Cup campaign in India, it was Pat who sparked the Australian team into action in this match against Sri Lanka. He took the first two wickets after a sluggish start from himself, and set the tone for the rest of the Australian team to follow.

As leaders of any business or organization know, while it is important, sometimes essential to be actively involved in community affairs away from what they are paid to do, if you lose sight of the main game that is in front of you; allow your personal actions and behaviours in the team to become inconsistent; and do not uphold the highest standards of accountability – then organisational and team performance suffers.

I, along with all Australian cricket fans, will be looking for the Australian cricket team to improve their cricket throughout the rest of the CWC.

Integral to that is the leadership of their captain, Pat Cummins.

Can he demonstrate that the leadership he shows off field can sit comfortably alongside the leadership in his day job?

Maybe the Sri Lankan encounter is the turning point in this tournament…

Share This Post:

Get The First Chapter Of Our eBook For FREE!

Short description of the resource and explanation why it might be useful for one’s choice.

Related Posts

The Ashes

The Ashes


What Business can learn cricket. I was recently asked a series of questions about the significance of The Ashes. I coached the last Australian team to win in England in 2001. I coached a further 3 Ashes contests winning at home in 2003-04, losing a remarkable series in 2005, and…
Read Full Article
Art Skill Mindfulness

Leadership and the art or skill of Mindfulness


There have been plenty of articles written on this topic such as the one included by HBR – ARTICLE LINK The article discusses some of the work of Daniel Goleman, one of the great proponents of EI. The article also discusses the range of techniques to allow people especially busy…
Read Full Article
Leaders Managers Coaches

Leaders must set the Vision!


Leaders must set the Vision, and then never lose sight of it in everything they do! The vision is Everest It is my view that leaders, managers and coaches need to ‘take people where they have never been before’ as Henry Kissinger was once quoted as saying. The role of…
Read Full Article

PROVEN TEACHING METHODS

Here’s The Three Ways You Can Work
With Us To Achieve Better, Lasting Results.

A coach and a leader with a unique perspective on the world, John is at home in any environment which seeks change, a desire for peak performance, and a vision to be the world’s best.

Speaking

Speaking

Are you planning to reach your Everest…be at the top of your game like a world champion team? Master Coach and Strategist John Buchanan will give you the road map, the tools and the inspiration you need to reach your summit.

Coaching

Coaching

This world champion coaching model will provide you, your team and your business with a road map to the top and the sacrificial acts that world champion teams embrace to give the best chance of having a “PB day”, every day at work.

Online Programs

Online Programs

I will be building relevant, insightful, practical courses and modules which will help you as a Leader and/or Coach to quickly make changes to the way you lead your teams, and indeed, the teams you want to create.