As Fiji Rugby builds up to the 2011 Rugby World Cup join Flying Fijians assistant coach Shannon Fraser as he gives a regular insight into team preparations.

Winning teams are rarely created by solitary leadership and are generally the product of a more collaborated approach to directional decision-making. The benefits are well documented in both the establishment of participation ownership/accountability as well as providing a number prospective for decision-making.

Remaining open to the thoughts and opinions of the groups provides an environment where individuals feel they have a voice and are part of shaping the direction of the team as opposed to simply listening and delivering someone else’s program. This approach allows for greater collective ownership and therefore a more unified ‘buy-in’ to team goals and performance analysis.

If you stand back and view an object from various positions it will provide you a slightly altered opinion of what you are looking at. Take a square for example, from three different vantage points one could say it is that of a square while, also identifying it as a rectangle or even a diamond. Varied prospectives provide more information about what is in front of you and therefore allow for a more impartial assessment.

When understanding trends of the modern game or the ingredients for winning programs or even successful performance cultures we must remain open to varied observations and remain inclusive of all viewpoints involved

In recent days we have been blessed to have had the opportunity to meet with a number of our boys playing up north and have enjoyed discussing all things from RWC preparations to the state of the game in both hemispheres as well as specific game styles for consideration.

This, the start of the process that will ensure collaboration within our approach to creating a winning team. 

View earlier articles:

Fraser Talk: Burn the Ships

Fraser Talk: Preparing to be the best