By RUSSELL BENNETT
ONE of Australia’s most noted leadership experts, Richard Maloney – the son of Emerald RSL president Peter – launched his new book recently which cuts to the core of both sporting club and business culture.
A strong culture is something the greatest sporting teams have, with those at the bottom aspiring to replicate it.
Maloney is a former highly successful state league football player in his own right, winning multiple premierships. He has been associated with eight elite sporting organisations across the country, helping 39 teams to grand finals with 24 going on to win premierships.
He has worked closely with Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League (YVMDFL) powerhouse Upwey Tecoma, as well as the the cricket club, in addition to the Yarra Valley Old Boys in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA). But Maloney’s programs have also been implemented at the professional elite level, including at AFL club the Western Bulldogs.
Dogs stars Matthew Boyd and Shaun Higgins attended the launch of his book and raved about the work Maloney had done at the club.
‘The Minds of Winning Teams’, his new book, is somewhat of a handbook for businesses and sporting clubs seeking to reinvent their cultures and fast-track a more productive and profitable environment. Maloney offers a strategic breakdown of the key components of leadership structure – providing specialised practical exercises that can be implemented into any organisation to create quick and effective change.
He also provides in-depth interviews with some of Australia’s sporting icons, including Australian Test cricket legend Justin Langer, Australia’s most successful female Olympian Rechelle Hawkes and former AFL and NFL player Ben Graham.
“It’s about how to create change in a fast and effective way that’s measureable,” Maloney told the Mail.
“The key message is that engagement is the new leadership.
“We’ve got to get people engaged first before your leadership message really takes shape.
“The key message in the book is that it’s all about activation, not knowledge dumping these days.
“Especially in the sports industry – guys don’t have time to be taking notes and learning what sort of personality they are. We get people inspired to work together on a common goal with a clear vision and then there’s a whole energy shift within a team or organisation.”
For more information, visit www.engageandgrow.com.au.
