Jean de Villiers: a true leader to the end of his South African test rugby career

Jean de Villiers: a true leader to the end of his South African test rugby career
Resolution Health Medical Scheme and Agility Channel: Zurreal pay tribute to brand ambassador

Monday 28 September 2015, As national rugby captain Jean de Villiers bows out of his South African test rugby career on a high note, after leading his team to a major win against Samoa in the World Cup, Resolution Health Medical Scheme (Resolution Health) and its wellbeing and rewards partner, Zurreal, pay tribute to this iconic sports leader.

“On behalf of Resolution Health and Zurreal, we wish to thank our brand ambassador Jean de Villiers for his sterling contribution to South African rugby and the leadership he has displayed,” says Mark Arnold, principal officer of Resolution Health.

“Jean will go down in our sporting history as one of the most dedicated and determined South African rugby captains, having so often shown the world the essence of true sportsmanship and the value of tenacity in the face of challenging circumstances,” he elaborates.

“These are principles each and every one of us should aspire to, and we thank Jean for having brought his unique brand of leadership to our national team. He has been a true ambassador, not only for Resolution Health and Zurreal, but also for our country as a whole.”

Behavioural psychologist Dr Jacqui Joubert, director of Agility Channel, looks at the qualities that have made Jean such a powerful leader and notes that these principles are also relevant for businesspeople looking to forge corporate success.

“The last week has been a rollercoaster ride of emotions for South African rugby fans. Following our defeat to Japan in South Africa’s first match of the World Cup, there was some negative sentiment surrounding the team – a situation that would have done little to boost the players’ morale at this crucial time. However, Jean managed to rally the team together and lead them to victory against Samoa,” she observes.

“From a behavioural psychology perspective, there are a number of leadership principles that can help bring a team together and keep them motivated to achieve their goal. For Jean de Villiers, it was tough times, such as those following our defeat to Japan, that presented the ideal opportunity for him to display leadership qualities.”

Principles of leadership are applicable to a wide range of settings, whether on the sports field, in the boardroom, or even in the political arena. Dr Joubert defines a leader as a person who leads a group from one scenario to another, where the second scenario should be an improvement on the first.

Dr Joubert notes that there remains debate around whether leaders are “born or bred” (“nature vs nurture”) in other words, whether leadership qualities are innate or can be learnt and socialised. “There are compelling arguments that leadership qualities are acquired through lifelong stimulation, guidance and role-modelling, and that the qualities are cultivated from a young age; but it may also be that the potential for becoming a leader has some genetic or biological basis.”

“A leader must have vision, be expertly skilled and relevantly informed to make educated decisions to guide the team. A leader must be able to see the strengths of each member of the team and how their contributions can best be utilised to help achieve the common goal.”
“In some instances it is important to empower your team, rather than micromanage every step. In other instances the leader should be able to take full control and make bold decisions on behalf of the team. The principle is, however, that if you allow each person to take responsibility for their share of the project, this helps them to become more efficient and ultimately grow as an individual,” Dr Joubert explains.

It is vital that a leader earns the respect of their team, as without this the individuals will often pull in different directions, with no unified vision and common goal for the end result. “This is not to say that the leader should be feared, as this in itself can be destructive to morale and the cohesion of the group. Equally, leadership is not a popularity contest – at some point the leader will have to make practical decisions, which may not please everyone, in order to reach group objectives.”

“Furthermore, a leader must be consistent so that the team knows at all times what is expected of them as individuals and also as a group. A leader must also ‘walk the talk’– in other words they should lead by example – to inspire the respect of the people they are leading.”

Dr Joubert says leaders should themselves be selfless in pursuit of the team’s goal, as this shows the rest of the team the level of commitment that is expected from all members. “One of worst mistakes a leader can make is to exploit a situation for their own personal benefit. Decisions should always be focused on furthering group goals, rather than on self-centred personal goals.”

“Leaders need to keep abreast of developments so that their decisions are well informed. They need to be pragmatic and adaptable, rather than sticking doggedly to failing strategies. At each step in the process towards reaching a set goal, the leader should be assessing progress and learning from mistakes. In this way, the process is refined and no time is wasted if the same problem is encountered in the future.”

“Wisdom and the ability to take the positive from unfortunate circumstances are further hallmarks of leadership. “A distinguishing characteristic of true leaders is recognition that, as long as everyone pulled together and gave of their best, missing the original goal does not necessarily equate to failure. If important lessons are learnt, this cannot be regarded as unqualified disaster because failure provides valuable opportunities for growth.”

A true leader also leaves a legacy that lasts well beyond their own tenure at the reigns. “Part of the leadership package includes having the wisdom to recognise the right time to stand down and make way for the next leader. While many of Jean’s fans still believe he has much to contribute, we must trust his judgment and be grateful for his practical sagacity, which has left an indelible imprint on the team psyche.”

“For the team going forward, it would be wonderful if they went on to win the World Cup, but it is by no means the only interpretation of success in the tournament. If Jean’s leadership has taught the team to acquit themselves with integrity and sportsmanship, that is the truest indication of a winning team, irrespective of whether they bring home the trophy or not,” Dr Joubert concludes.

Ends

Issued by: Martina Nicholson Associates (MNA) for Agility Channel: Zurreal and Resolution Health Medical Scheme
Contact: Martina Nicholson
Telephone: (011) 469 3016
Email: martina@mnapr.co.za

Author: Meggan Saville from MNA.
Twitter: @MNAPR1

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