Tackling Business Challenges - Lessons Learned from the 2023 Rugby World Cup Part 1: Control the Controllables (aka Massive Sports Cliché Numero Uno)

This marks the first post in a series of discussions that connect aspects of rugby (*cough* the greatest sport on the planet) and explore its relevance to the business world.

Sports fanatics adore this (admittedly overused) analogy. However, in business, we often become preoccupied with factors beyond our direct control, which can negatively impact our decision-making and time management.

I first encountered the phrase "control the controllables" from one of my favorite coaches and the most famous "Loiner" (you can Google it) I know - Mike Shelley.

In a team meeting, Mike drew a circle in the middle and surrounded it with several circles on the outside and several circles on the inside. This illustration showed the circles on the outside as out of our direct control and those inside as in our perceived control.  This clearly indicated where our focus should lie. Sidenote: Mike is a highly educated individual, but on that particular occasion, I'm pretty sure he used crayons for his illustration (for the audience's sake).

Uncontrollable Factors

In this year's RWC in France, a few standard uncontrollable elements came to the forefront:

Weather - During the pool stages, it was scorching hot. Slippery balls, dehydration, and fatigue frequently created hostile playing conditions. The semi-finals and finals saw rain and cooler temperatures ruling the day and impacting the actions on the field.

Injuries - Rugby is a collision sport, similar to enduring multiple car crashes over 80 minutes. Injuries are inherent to the sport, and each of this year's teams had to contend with significant squad injuries during the tournament. Look no further than the host nation and their troubles before and during the tournament.

Referees - The standard of refereeing is currently exceptional, but then there's the TMO (Television Match Official), the "eye in the sky" overseeing the game. This relatively new introduction to rugby is hotly debated due to its seemingly significant influence on match flow. The finals provided the ultimate example, with TMO decisions ultimately altering the course of the match on both sides of the pitch. I'm not entirely sold on this aspect, but I suppose it's beyond my control (if I knew how to do a wink emoji, it would go here).

Controllable Factors

On the flip side of this, let's now explore how many in high-performance rugby approach controlling one of the items inside these uncontrollables:

Weather - What cleats are you wearing today? What is your hydration strategy in the 72 hours leading up to the match? How long will you warm up? What is the tactic you will employ inside the opposition 22 when it's pouring rain? How much kicking practice have you done on days where the wind is gusting? All of these simple elements are a) in the players' control and b) will have an impact on the outcome.

Fabien Galthie, France's Head Coach, had, in my opinion, a very "French thing to say" about their approach to the weather (please don't rip me on this, I love the French and their way of life):

"We don't let the weather affect us too much. We focus on our own game and what we can control. We prepare for all kinds of scenarios, but we also trust our instincts and intuition. We play with passion and pride, no matter what the conditions are."

Personally, I think he's a bit coy when it comes to describing instincts and intuition. Those elements are coached into that squad from every level. Discounting them to intuition and instinct is IMO a deflection tactic. But I digress. The point remains: they still think about controlling only those elements they can.

I won't bore the non-rugby readers with the controllable aspects of injuries, referees, or other dynamic macro forces, but I will say there's always a way to break down those things into things you can influence.

Uncontrollable Factors

Now, if we shift our focus to elements that are largely uncontrollable in business, consider a few things like:

• Commodity Prices

• Labour Market Issues

• Interest Rates

• National Politics

Unless your name rhymes with "Bump," you control a Fortune 100 company, start major geo-political conflicts, or you've recently acquired a global social media platform, your ability to influence the above is likely nominal. Yet, I'm also inclined to believe that many of you reading this have spent a disproportionate amount of time pondering, discussing (read: complaining), or fretting about these issues. Perhaps some of that time could have been better invested in elements under your control, which have the potential to drive positive change for your business. 

Controllable Factors

For example, if we look to link the above to smaller, more manageable concerns:

• Hedging, pre-ordering, or stockpiling

• Recruiting and retention strategies

• Banking reviews, FX strategies, loan renegotiations

• Local MLA campaigns and regional lobby efforts

*(Note - most of my experience is at the SME level. You grocery magnates may choose to ignore this). 

The key strategy here involves breaking down uncontrollable elements into localized, micro, or differently framed problems, allowing us to allocate our efforts, time, and resources more effectively.

In both the worlds of business and sports, the concept of "control the controllables" is not just a catchy phrase; it's a fundamental principle that can make or break your success. As we observed in the 2023 Rugby World Cup, uncontrollable elements like weather, injuries, and even the decisions of referees (boooo!, TMO) can significantly influence game outcomes. The same holds true in the business world, where factors such as national politics (booo…?), and other macro forces often lie beyond our direct influence.

So, as we reflect on this simplified version of lessons learned from the Rugby World Cup, let's remember that success in both sports and business involves making the most of what we can control. By doing so, we can navigate the unpredictable with confidence and drive positive change for our teams, our companies, and ourselves. 

Your feedback, whether good, bad, or ugly, is always welcome and appreciated. 

Up Next: 

Part 2: Mike Tyson on Planning, Planning, and More Planning

Part 3: WTF???!!! Unexpected Events and How to Handle Them

Part 3b: Generals and Soldiers - Leadership at all levels (this is recently added as an inspiration hit me during a quiet moment)

Part 4: Win or Lose, we Hit the Booze - Celebrating Meaningful Events

 Conclusions: Leaning on ChatGPT to wrap it all up...

Signing off as the humble custodian (until I get dropped) of this blog-space,

Ryan