The Struggle: Getting "The Eddie Jones Question" Wrong
How not identifying the right guy can sink you
For those that don’t know, Eddie Jones is a rugby coach. A great rugby coach.
I’ve been down a podcast rabbit hole on him and one idea of his keeps injecting itself into every podcast interview.
That’s why I’ve labeled it, “The Eddie Jones Question.”
He says there are often 1-3 players on your team that you need to have the best possible relationship with or it won’t go well. You need to identify these players quickly and act swiftly after identifying them.
Find out who the guy that speaks first after you leave the room is… You need him.
Find out who is “looked up to” (for the right or wrong reasons)… You need him too.
Don’t get this guy or guys on your side… Game over. I experienced this in my 2 years of head coaching. I didn’t have these guy that spoke first after I left. The relationships weren’t strong enough.
My “first follower” was actually the inverse of what you want in a first follower.
We’ve all seen this video. If you get a first follower to “come with you” you’re in good shape. As David Perell says, “you look like a genius.”
But if nobody comes with you, you look like “the goon.”
I had a leadership group of 5 players that second year. I brought them in a week before training camp to educate them on leadership, modeling behavior, (and even the idea of first follower.)
I identified 5 leaders but identifying 5 leaders doesn’t matter.
Who the team perceives leads matters.
Every single one of those 5 guys in the leadership group was outmatched by this player. And the team ultimately paid for it.
The thought crossed my mind that summer that I should entertain the idea of having this player in the leadership group because I thought he might be that guy. The one that spoke first. Opportunity missed.
The lesson is…
Know who the guy you need to have on your side is and get him there. Build that relationship. Get “The Eddie Jones Question” right.