Yeah, my latest job as an accountant, the MD asked me one final question at the interview. "what's one plus one?", I leaned over his desk and said "whatever you want it to be". Enjoying my stay.
I worked as an internal consultant in conjunction with an independent consultancy firm for a major Australian bank for nearly 10 years. The bank wanted to improve the efficiency of its Operations division. We were assigned one division in Queensland and given 8 months to hit a set of targets or we were gone.
The consultancy group we were working with were fantastic. They quickly set up a lean six sigma program and the results were amazing. That 8 month program ended up being a 10 year program that touched every team in the banks operations areas and evolved in line with the banks requirements.
Key to that success, was having a great team of committed people, support from the highest echelon of the bank, a proven method of working and a leader who knew how to connect with people of all kinds. We would enter departments with the employees wanting to kill us as they knew that efficiency gains would inevitably lead to a reduced workforce, an increased workload or both and within an hour of this leader explaining the process, why we were doing it and what we expect the outcomes to be the workers were laughing and eager to get involved in the project. Amazing leadership.
I think to be a successful club you need all those elements I saw in action over that 10 years. Did they always love us, of course not. But they understood what we were doing, they were an active part of it and we were honest with them throughout and we had their respect as a result. A great team working together, with integrity and respect for all, using a proven process lead by a strong and charismatic leader can achieve great things. Things that may not have seemed possible at the outset. Sound familiar?
Dimma was a beneficiary and a key part of a team with all those qualities. The departure of Peggy, Dimma and most likely Benny will be challenging, but the culture they have built will be a legacy that will survive long after they have gone.
It's why I believe quality candidates will be falling over themselves to become our next coach. Great club, great culture, great people and a decent playing list. Who wouldn't want to be a part of that? (Dimma excepted of course)
