Managers must turn around staff who are “energy-sappers” in their organisation to be successful, according to world-beating coach Sir Clive Woodward.
Speaking at the annual Institute of Director’s convention in London last week, Woodward, who coached England to Rugby World Cup success in 2003 and is now head coach of the British and Irish Lions, said his job as a manager was to try and change these under-achievers.
“You really don’t have time to deal with these people so you have to try and move the energy sappers into energisers,” he said. “If they don’t change or don’t want to change then they have to go – and you move forward.”
Woodward also gave delegates an insight into the management techniques over a seven-year career with England, which culminated with the team lifting the trophy after beating Australia.
“Instilling a winning mindset doesn’t just happen overnight, it is all-encompassing. You must get that mindset in every member of the organisation,” he said.
Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance
Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday
Woodward, who ran a successful computer leasing business after retiring from playing, added that “change thinking had an important part to play”.
