 …communication is one of the best indications of whether a team – business or sports – is ready to play.

30-6 WAS the final score. We had been beaten, and convincingly. When I actually went back to look at the score that night, I was a little surprised. I actually thought it had been higher, such was my memory of that resounding defeat.

It’s Round 2 of the 2011 Super Rugby season, and we, the Queensland Reds, have suffered a thoroughly disappointing loss to our arch rivals the NSW Waratahs. We always knew it was going to be tough, and although we didn’t expect to win, we went into that game thinking – no, believing – we had a great chance of winning.

The season had been looking good after the boys had finished off the previous season in fifth, only one position out of the finals, and a position which this year would have given them a place in the finals.

The trials had gone well against the Crusaders up in Cairns, followed by another good performance to back that up against the Brumbies in Darwin.

But the start of the season definitely wasn’t going to plan. A close, by the skin of your teeth win against the Force in Round 1 at home, winning 21-20, mainly in part to a late penalty, and we hadn’t hit our straps the way we had expected.

Even though the Force always put out their best performances for the year against the Reds, we knew it was coming, and being the first game we should have nullified that and proven that we were the better team.

We as a playing group had high expectations for the season. Having not been there the previous season, but coming at the start of the pre-season, there was a real buzz around the place. When I say ‘we’, I literally meant the playing and coaching group. We had higher expectations than I think many, if any, of our supporters could have placed on us. Sure, they may have been hopeful, the team had finished in the bottom half of the table for a good few years now, but we weren’t hopeful – we were expectant, expectant of ourselves and each other.

So what happened that night in Sydney when the Waratahs had us leaving the field, licking our wounds? Was it arrogance? Nope. Disrespect? Nope. Complacency? Nope.

I think we were up for the game, but they were up for it a lot more than we were. They had sensed that this year would be tougher than they had faced in a long time – and they would be right. But not on this night. They had come for battle, especially after only narrowing defeating the Reds at Suncorp thanks to a Wycliff Palu try the season before, in what would be the only encounter between the two that year.

Ewen Mckenzie, our coach, got us into the meeting room, adjacent to the change room. It was also a miniature lecture theatre, and was a different location and setup to where and how we had been located pre-match and at half time. We were in a circle then. Now we were all looking at him, at the front. There were no heated words, no yelling and screaming, despite those being things Ewen Mckenzie was more than capable of; maybe not the screaming, but definitely the yelling and swearing. But he was good at choosing his moments.

Tonight was not the night. He wanted the answers from the playing group.

Why were we not up for it? Pre-season had been good, the pre-season games had been good, training had been good. Why weren’t the performances good? This went on for about 40 minutes. Maybe we were still living on last year’s achievements? There seemed to be a lack of enthusiasm, and energy, and that showed in a lack of communication.

I think communication is one of the best indications of whether a team – business or sports – is ready to play. For sports, it’s about how much communication is taking place on the field. It’s why I emphasise the level of communication, especially from the leaders, in a warm up. Communication leads to clarity and confidence.

We walked out knowing what had to change. And it did. The next time both teams met we were on a roll and went onto beat the Waratahs for the first time in a long time. And then finish the season as minor premieres, and then as Champions.

As a business leader you will at times find yourself in Ewen’s position. You don’t always know the answers, or have to have all the answers – ask your team what’s going on. Especially if you’ve set the standards and expectations as a group, and they aren’t being met.

Sometimes the team needs to take ownership for their performances. Don’t just allow it to go on, unaddressed. Have the tough conversations.

 Beau Robinson is an Action Coach Business Coach and former Super Rugby Champion and Wallaby. beaurobinson@actioncoach.com