Working with a winning formula

A SUCCESS rate of 78.3 per cent isn’t a bad record in anyone’s language, no matter what the endeavour, and it’s this winning formula that has Dr Ric Charlesworth in demand across the nation.

Dr Charlesworth shared his coaching philosophies with members of Perth’s business community in a seminar presented by Surf Life Saving Western Australia this week.

Dr Charlesworth coached the Hockeyroos to 198 wins from 253 matches and, while his statistics as a coach and former Australian hockey and State cricket player are impressive, he is also a qualified doctor and was the Federal Labor member for Perth.

If you missed the opportunity to hear Dr Charlesworth, he does have a book out called The Coach Managing for Success, which covers similar ground. It was released late last year and is now in its third print run.

Dr Charlesworth said the book documents important lessons and theories for business people.

“There is a chapter in the book called What the Hockeyroos Can Teach Business. In business, people are content to just grow their business. Sports is all about being the best,” he said.

“Everyone needs purpose and direction. I was part of the 1976 Olympic team, which was the most unsuccessful. To turn that around didn’t just happen. It was setting a structure, getting resources, planning and direction.”

And although he did win a silver medal at the 1976 Games, Dr Charlesworth stresses the need for teamwork, which can be encouraged by coaches or managers.

“One of the things that I did as a coach was to become less autocratic and more interactive,” he said.

“You have to have a way to be able to convince people that they want to do it and involve them.”

But don’t think applying one rule or theory to an area of your business will lead to success, for therein lies the peril, according to Dr Charlesworth.

“What brings performance is multi-function, a holistic approach,” he said.

“You need to take care of all your business.”