How to win a boat race
Action from the CH&FC vs Police game rowing the one person steering the canoe has to be skilled in the sport and be able to inspire the team and direct them to the goal, otherwise, that team will lose.
A Japanese company and an American car manufacturing company decided to have a canoe race on the Missouri River. Both teams practiced long and hard to reach their peak performance before the race. On the big day, the Japanese team won by a mile. The Americans, very discouraged and depressed, decided to investigate the reason for the crushing defeat.
A management team made up of senior management was formed to investigate and recommend appropriate action. Their conclusion was the Japanese team had 8 people rowing and 1 person steering, while the American team had 8 people steering and 1 person rowing. So the American management hired a consulting company and paid them a large amount of money for a second opinion.
They advised that too many people were steering the canoe, while not enough people were rowing. To prevent another loss to the Japanese, the Americans’ rowing team’s management structure was totally reorganized to 4 steering senior managers, 3 steering senior consultants and 1 steering associate. Which meant there was 1 rower and many (8) advisors with titles.
They also implemented a new performance system that would give the 1 person rowing the boat (the steering associate) greater incentive to work harder. It was called the “Rowing Team Quality First Program,” with meetings, dinners and free pens for the rower. There was discussion of getting new paddles, canoes and other equipment, extra vacation days for practices and bonuses. The next year the Japanese won by two miles.
Humiliated, the American management laid off the rower- steering associate for poor performance, halted development of a new canoe, sold the paddles, and canceled all capital investments for new equipment. The money saved was distributed to the Senior Managers as bonuses, not to mention the big boss taking a large chunk, and the next year’s racing team was outsourced to India!
Even though it’s good for a laugh, the content should make you reflect on aspects of leadership and strategy that can make winning a part of life. The story may not be far off our shores of rugby as particularly many heads roll in schools as well as clubs which have many steering and few rowing . This is not limited to playing teams.
* Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, coach and Accredited Referees Evaluator IRB