Rugby fever has once again gripped the world and, in particular, us die-hard South African fans. Being an avid rugby supporter and ex-amateur-coach myself, I cannot help but draw comparisons between business and this thrilling game. I love how over our history, rugby has had a way of drawing people in from all walks of life, aficionados and novices alike, band together when South Africa plays.
In the recent South Africa vs Ireland game – dubbed the clash of the rugby titans – the current top two teams in the world took to the field in front of a full house at The Stade de France. While back home, expectations were high for the current world champions as we seemed to be hitting form at exactly the right time – coaching staff and team settled, preparation done and confidence high. In a tense but exciting affair of ups and downs, small margins and limited opportunities, the Irish emerged eventual winners after a physically taxing 80 minutes. They demonstrated why they deserved to be the Number 1 team in the world by handling pressure and managing the big moments well; and in the process collected their 16th consecutive win. I had no doubt that our Bokke would bounce back (which they did against Tonga), and I am still hopeful that Siya will raise the Web Ellis trophy at the end of the tournament.
In contrasting fortunes, I look to the Australians, who are facing a probable early exit after suffering one of their largest defeats at the hands of Wales. Statistically, they have the youngest average age by player with very limited experience of playing against tough opposition on a stage like this. With all the heart and the right intentions, still experience and the confidence that comes from playing together, practising together and building skills and strengths under match pressure, brings the edge.
My ponderings over these matches, brought me to a few conclusions. At the risk of appearing overly simplistic, the one that stood out the most was that experiential learning is absolutely essential for individuals and teams and vital to their learning journey. To reiterate, our 70-20-10 model of last month, research shows us that 70% of all learning happens on the job. The more opportunities that are created for on the job learning, the better equipped you and your team will be to deal with the challenges and scenarios they will face on a daily basis. Whether successful or not, there should always be winning and learning – this is where growth happens!
This month, we’re focusing on the experiential learning part of the 70-20-10 model. We’ll explore why hands-on experience is your most powerful training asset, and how you can leverage it to develop a workforce that doesn’t just meet expectations, but consistently exceeds them.
Keen to transform your workforce into a champion team, ready to tackle any challenge? Click here to talk to one of our experts about tailoring a 70-20-10 strategy to fit your organization.
“Experience is the teacher of all things.” — Julius Caesar
Remember, just like our Bokke, your team has the potential to achieve incredible things, given the right experiences. Next month, we’ll delve into the “20%” – the power of learning from others. Until then, keep soaring to new heights!
PS – If you would like to be the first in line to hear about our innovative ROI Toolbox and Annual Planner that supports experiential learning in the workplace, click here and you will be waitlisted for the early release.