The recent Rugby World Cup has provided countless demonstrations of amazing leadership and teamwork.

Following his highly popular keynote presentation at our PM07 National Practice Management Conference last April, British Lions and Scotland rugby legend, Ian McGeechan transfers the skills learnt from the sporting arena to running a successful surgery.

As a former rugby player and British Lions and Scotland coach, I feel that there are many parallels between my profession and the role of a GP Practice Manager.

For one, both a coach and a Practice Manager are in the front-line - and there is no hiding place! In both cases, it is important to display powerful leadership qualities to be able to deal with people and work out how to get the best out of them.

In both roles it is also necessary to create an operational structure and have the confidence to implement ideas.

The similarities between the two roles do not end there.

In both professions there is a diverse range of tasks to be juggled, such as recruitment, profit and loss, budget, analysis and getting results.

I firmly believe that, in any business, it is the people who make the difference and that individuals need to be nurtured if they are to perform to the best of their ability.

Supportive Ethos

Early in my career I was able to develop in a positive way because I had the necessary support from people when I needed it most.

I have carried on that supportive ethos throughout my professional career.

People need to be encouraged if they are to blossom.

If team members or employees feel as if they are on their own, they will start looking for ways out rather than ways in, and this means that an organisation will not thrive.

Giving team members praise and recognition is essential, for building both trust and motivation.

A good GP surgery needs more than decent doctors; everyone, from the top to the bottom, plays a part and it is essential that everyone feels as if their contribution is valued.

A Practice Manager, like a sports coach, needs to have clearly defined goals and should be able to take a step back from the operation and view it objectively.

Practice Managers should try and see their surgery through the eyes of others - how is the practice generally perceived, does it inspire positive thoughts in others?

It is a good idea for Practice Managers to put down a marker, asking what they want their surgery to achieve and how they would like the outside world to view it.

Aims should be identified and then followed through.

As well as doing the groundwork, it is essential to have conviction in the practice’s ability to achieve the desired goals - confidence is the key to success.

My Advice

My advice is to always give 100%.

Whatever the outcome of manager’s efforts, he or she needs to know that they have given their best, and given it unstintingly.

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Ian is widely regarded as one of the best coaches that the world of rugby has seen.

Having represented Scotland and The British Lions as a player, Ian went on to coah the British Lions on three consecutive tours - Australia 1989, New Zealand 1993, South Africa 1997 - and is the most successful Lions coach ever.

A former head teacher, Ian has an impressive record at international and club levels, and he is currently Director of Rugby at London Wasps.

In 1990, Ian was awarded the OBE. His other accolades include being entered into the Sportscoach UK Hall of Fame in 2001, and being inducted into International Rugby's Hall of Fame, and the Professional Players Association Hall of Fame.

Ian received a standing ovation when he addressed 300 Practice Managers at the Williams Medical Supplies PM07 National Practice Management Conference last April.

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