A Unique Global Sports

Project

The British & Irish Lions

Challenges & How Overcome

Challenges and How Overcome

Where Start?

• Where start?

2.5yrs out

Business start up

New email address/phone/office

Challenges and How Overcome

Where Start?

Phase 5

Review Research &

Fact Finding

Phase 1

Sep 10 Mar 11 Jan 12

Outline

Planning

Phase 2

Mar 13

Phase 3

Detailed

Planning

May 13

Consolidation

Phase 4

Jul 13

Implementation

Aug 13

Lions Planning Timeline

Phase 6

Solid foundations is the key to project management

Challenges and How Overcome

Where Start?

• Planning Timeline gave me:

Clarity

Achievable goals

A measurement of progress

Confident that on track

Challenges and How Overcome

Where Start?

• Research & Fact Finding

Purpose

Spoke to 32 Players / Coaches

Covering 16 tours from 1955 - 2009

Key Message 1

Do your homework

ahead of the project

starting and put in place

a timeline

Challenges and How Overcome

4 Teams into 1

• Jan – Mar 2013: 6 Nations

• May – Jul 2013: Lions Tour

=

Challenges and How Overcome

4 Teams into 1

• Player selection key – reps from all 4 countries

• Did the best players go? Best tourists went

• Twin rooms

• 1 room concept for team room

• Nothing sent to players by email

=

Key Message 2

Take time to select the

right team (who

compliment each other)

to deliver the project

Challenges and How Overcome

4 Teams into 1

• Led through empowering senior players

• Players committees: fines, music, entertainment, tour guides

• Strong values – huge importance to players

o Legacy

o Friendship

o Responsibility

=

Key Message 3

Be a collaborative

leader who empowers

people

Challenges and How Overcome

Players

• New players in / injured players out

Average on tour 9 get injured & go home

All about relationships – Embassies, airlines, national teams

Anytime of day

Kit – formal / training

Key Message 4

Consider early on in

planning…are there key

allies that you need to

tap into?

Challenges and How Overcome

Stakeholders

• Dealing with stakeholders both internal and external

All important

All needing attention

Groups such as ….

Challenges and How Overcome

External Stakeholders

GOVERNING BODIES

SPONSORS VIPS

WAGs

LIONS BOARD

EMBASSIES/ CONSULATES HOST CITIES

HOST UNION NATIONAL SQUADS

PROFESSIONAL CLUBS

SUPPORTERS

TRAVEL COMPANIES

Challenges and How Overcome

Internal Stakeholders

COACHES

MARKETING

MEDICS

KIT

COMMERCIAL

PLAYERS

MEDIA

DIGITAL OPERATIONS

Challenges and How Overcome

Stakeholders

• Dealing with all stakeholders

Ahead of tour agreed communications plan

Conducted structured daily meetings across functions

Looked back and forward 24hrs

Commercial Initiatives

Sponsorship Family

Broadcast Partner

Principle Partners

Global Sponsors

Formal Wear

Training Kit

Commercial Initiatives

Sponsorship Family

Official Airline Partner

Nutritional Partner

Professional Services

Vehicle Partner

Commercial Initiatives

Sponsorship Family

• Sponsors portal on website

Aim to assist in with the management and delivery of rights

Flexible tool continuously updated

A platform to share key information, artwork files and specs

Key Message 5

Agree a clear

communication plan

with all stakeholders

Keys to Success

Keys To Success

• Collaborative Leadership

Share the things that are really challenging you

Ask and listen to the views of others throughout

Delegate responsibilities early on

Keys To Success

• Ensure your project team + support staff aligned

Project team & support staff aligned

PERFORMANCE IMPERATIVES

VALUES

MARKETING

FINANCE

? ?

MEDIA

EXECUTIVE SUPPORT

HR

COMMERCIAL

PROJECT TEAM

SUPPORTING

SUPPORTED

Key Message 6

Ensure that ‘support

staff’ in the wider

environment are aligned

to your plans

Keys To Success

• Meticulous planning – visualisation

• How you deal with the unexpected

• Flexibility

Key Message 7

No plan survives

contact with the enemy

Dangers to Success

The dangers…

• Not delegating enough

• Not having short realistic, achievable goals

• Complacency

• Burn out

A Unique Global Sports

Project

The British & Irish Lions