From Rugby to Property Management

In 2023, the Springboks achieved a historic feat by clinching their fourth Rugby World Cup title, becoming the first team to achieve such a milestone. Their journey, chronicled in Season 1 and 2 of "Chasing the Sun," serves as an inspiration for teams worldwide. What makes the Springboks such an exceptional team goes beyond their victories; it's about their approach to winning.

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However, their success wasn't immediate. Reflecting on the 2015 Rugby World Cup, where South Africa faced a humiliating defeat to Japan, and ultimately, a failed world cup campaign, reveals the team's journey wasn't always smooth. Yet, bold leadership from Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber transformed the team from underdogs to champions. How did they do it and what can we learn from them?

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The Power of Data in Team Performance

Rugby, like property management, is a team sport with distinct roles and responsibilities.

• ‍8 Forwards: Typically the big guys like Eben Etsebeth, involved in all the set pieces – scrums and line outs. The forward they lay the foundation for the backline players.
• ‍7 Backline Players: The smaller and faster guys like Cheslin Kolbe and Handre Pollard who typically score the points – they’re often the finishers.
• ‍Coach and Captain: Guys like Rassie, Jacques and Siya Kolisi – the leaders who formulates the gameplans and make the key decisions on the field.
• ‍Sponsors and Partners: Sponsors like Nike and MTN, as well as the conditioning team, physios and also the supporters.

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The Springbok's success under Rassie and Jacques was fueled by innovative strategies, more specifically the introduction of Battle Stats. This revolutionary concept analysed each player's positive impact during games, enhancing team dynamics and performance.

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Battle stats looks at the positive impact that each player makes during games, like ball carries, defenders beaten, tackles made, and turn overs made. Secondly, battle stats measures how often a players makes an impact during the 80 minute game. Here the formula:

The player with the best battle stats in the 2023 was Kwagga Smith. He made an impact every 69 seconds he was on the field.

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Drawing Parallels to Property Management

Community management, akin to rugby, relies on collaboration and synergy among team members. Each role contributes uniquely to the overall success during the “game”:

• Business Owners: They’re like the coach and captain, setting the game plan and strategy.
• Finance Teams: Like the forwards, laying the financial foundation during monthly financial “set pieces”.
• Community Managers: Like backline players,  executing operational tasks and managing relationships – taking the “ball over the line”.
• Partners and Stakeholders: Auditors, attorneys, banks, software providers like WeconnectU, providing essential support and resources.

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Identifying Battle Stats in Community Management

Just as Battle Stats quantify player impact in rugby, certain impact points define success  for each role player in community management:

• Business Owners' Impact Points: Profitability, Strategy, Team Communication, Work environment, Tech Tools, and Team Health.

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• Finance Teams' Impact Points: Communication, Cashbook Management, Supplier Payments, Collections, Billings, and Audits.
• Community Managers' Impact Points: Communication, Compliance, Project Management, Meeting Facilitation, Advice/Guidance, and Reporting.

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3 principles we can learn from the Winning Springbok Team

When we consider key roles and impact points, there are 3 valuable principles we can take from the world cup winning Springboks and apply to Community Management.

1. Value Time: The Boks recognised the value of time during games. We can all agree that time flies, but the truth is you are the pilot. We need to focus on and fight for every minute we are in the chair, no matter which role you play. A relentless focus on time will help you spend it better, maximise moments of truth and reduce time wasters.
2. Prioritise Efficiency: Rassie and Jacques was able to unlocked each players’ efficiency when it mattered most. What is efficiency: It’s the ability to execute a task or activity in the shortest amount of time, maintaining the highest quality and effectiveness. Like in rugby, we need to adopt the “Kwagga” Approach – What impact can you make and how often can you make a big impact during the “game”? Whether you’re an owner, Finance Manager or Community Manager – think how you maximise efficient in each impact point.
3. Embrace Teamwork: Rassie and Jacques taught the players to focus on the team, the “why” and not the “I”. The players bought in, history was made and a nation inspired. The same magic can happen in Community management if there is a relentless focus on each players’ TIME to impact – hold each other accountable not to waste time. Think is internal time wasters: internal emails, manual workflows, spreadsheets, etc. Lastly, the team executed Rassie’s gameplays to perfections: those unique moves to outsmart the opposition when the pressure was on. Just like the Springboks, Community Managers can execute specific moves or strategies. The finance team can save time on finances, e.g. bulk banking, automated debit orders, smart utility management. Community Managers can save time through smart meeting management, global compliance management, and a zero inbox approach to manage emails. Business owners can implement gameplays to build a healthy work environment that promotes efficiency and time saving.  

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Strengthening the Community Management Team

The Springboks exemplify what's achievable through teamwork and a shared vision. Similarly, by prioritizing efficiency, valuing time, and fostering collaboration, community management teams can enhance their performance and achieve remarkable results. The Springboks taught us – We are stronger together.

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Let's commit to working together, as teams and industy, leveraging each other's strengths, and striving for excellence in community management. Just as the Springboks demonstrated, when we unite as a team, there's no limit to what we can achieve.