In our last handful of +1s, we’ve been spending time with Sam Walker, exploring wisdom from his great book The Captain Class.
Today we’re going to wrap up our time with him and his captains.
We’re going to talk about the fifth quality elite captains possess…
They “motivate others with passionate nonverbal displays.”
Let’s get straight to work.
Sam tells us: “During pregame introductions, for example, Bill Russell would stride onto the court with maximum cockiness, glowering at the other team. Once he joined his teammates, he’d fold his arms regally, high up on his chest, as if he were the king of all he surveyed. Russell later said he struck this arrogant pose on purpose.”
Then he tells us: “The Tier One captain who stood above the rest in terms of aggressive displays was New Zealand’s Buck Shelford. On the rugby pitch, Shelford’s persuasive mana, combined with his unforgettable toughness at Nantes, left no questions about his passion to win. One of Shelford’s most memorable qualities as captain was his dedication to a pregame ritual known as the haka.”
THEN he talks about the origin story for the haka that we talked about in our +1 called The Heroic Haka.
Note: Buck Shelford is a case study in EXTREME DOGGEDNESS.
He’s the guy who played through a scrotum tear we briefly mentioned not too long ago. Yes, I, too, wince every time I type/say that. Imagined experience/mirror neurons for the win! 😲 🤕
Now…
That passage is from chapter #9 of the book called “Calculated Acts: The Power of Nonverbal Displays.”
Know this…
ALL OF THE BEST ATHLETES AND TEAMS are focused on this.
As one of the (world’s best) coaches I recently worked with in Europe put it, the best athletes/teams (including the All Blacks!) DELIBERATELY train to “win the body language game.”
And…
They don’t just win it.
THEY DOMINATE IT.
And…
That’s not by accident.
THEY TRAIN IT.
(See our recent +1 on The Command Posture from The Pressure Principle.)
Now…
Let’s talk about Bill Russell.
His quote that kicks off the book is one of the best descriptions of leadership I’ve ever read: “My ego demands—for myself—the success of the team.”
(Note: That’s Heroic.)
Now…
Let’s go back to the New Zealand All Blacks haka to make the point for Today’s +1.
I already shared what ChatGPT tells me is THE most-viewed haka of all time.
Fun fact: It went from 75 million views to 79 million since I originally shared it.
Here’s the link again if you want to watch it (again): “The Greatest Haka Ever?!”
Now...
The point of the passage above is the power of nonverbal communication.
NO TEAM in the history of sports has had a more ritualized and powerful demonstration of this power than the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team.
Period.
The “mana” that is displayed is palpable.
You want THOSE guys on YOUR team. (Right?)
Know this…
Mana is, essentially, the Māori word for Soul Force.
With that in mind, let’s channel our inner, integrated warrior as we Flip the Switch and connect to and express our best, most Heroic selves and inspire those around us to do the same.
All day.
Every day.
ESPECIALLY…
Today.
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