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On this episode of the Sportspeople Recruitment active CEO Podcast, Craig Johns speaks with Todd Greenberg about focusing on more than a game, the importance of EQ as a leader, choosing character before talent, CEO loneliness and life under intense public scrutiny as CEO of NRL. We also delve into Rugby League being owned by its fans, looking through the lens of what’s in the best interest of the game, channelling your competitive instinct as a leader, sport enabling social change and tribalism in professional sports.
Todd Greenberg – More Than A Game
Todd Greenberg is a grateful and humble leader, who loves connecting with people in one of the world’s toughest sports, Rugby League. Known as one of Australia’s top sport administrators, Todd is a handy cricket player who would love to be a defence lawyer, and is passionate about building inclusive and engaged communities through sport.
He completed a Sports Science degree at the College of Knowledge and a Masters of Sport Management at University of Technology Sydney. His career has included Events & Promotions Manager at Cricket NSW; Operations & Events Manager and CEO at Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs; General Manager at ANZ Stadium; Head of Football at the NRL; and is currently the CEO of NRL.
Todd talks about:
- Growing up in one of the world’s great sporting cities, Sydney.
- The life lessons from playing in a team sport environment.
- Being from a family where work ethic was principally driven from his parents
- Always believe intuitively in your own ability and back yourself consistently.
- Bob Radford, CEO of NSW Cricket, was one of the early influences on his professional career.
- Surviving in sports administration takes an equal set of IQ as well as EQ.
- Being the youngest CEO in the NRL when appointed to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
- As leaders of a sports club you effectively become the custodians for that period of time.
- Fans are emotionally connected with the brand and the colours of that club.
- Sports teams as a pillar of community bringing multiple cultures and communities together.
- Your players inside the club need to understand the broader scope of their responsibilities.
- The role of sport enabling social change in society.
- Rugby league wants to be a game for all, irrelevant of where you come from.
- Recharging the batteries and being disciplined to find time away from sport.
- His first 100 days in office as CEO of NRL.
- The most immediate challenge was people, culture and relationships.
- The NRL tackling shifting the behaviours and mindsets of the players.
- Supporting the family and their role in the players performance.
- Mentally and emotionally coping with having to regularly fronting integrity-related issues.
- The importance of a team of mentors.
- Doing something for someone else and not expecting something in return.
Active CEO Performance Tip
active CEO Performance – Cultivate Performance – Performance doesn’t occur on its own. It requires hard work, consistency, recovering with purpose and most importantly discipline. You need to cultivate your performance through being disciplined and ensuring that you have established the small repeatable daily actions that are required to achieve your goals. Discipline is a work in practice, it is something you need to develop, train and then maintain to be successful.
Tweets
“It’s not about being fitter, faster and stronger, it’s actually being a better person, a more rounded individual who can contribute back to their communities.” Todd Greenberg talks about character over player, on the Sportspeople Recruitment active CEO Podcast.
“Playing a team sport particularly, irrelevant of what sport it is, provides you so many life lessons, particularly for your business life.” Todd Greenberg on the life lessons from team sports, on the Sportspeople Recruitment active CEO Podcast.
Resources Mentioned in this show:
Todd Greenberg Twitter
Todd Greenberg Wikipedia
National Rugby League www.nrl.com
NRG2Perform www.nrg2perform.com
Craig Johns Speaker
Craig Johns craig@nrg2perform.com
Craig Johns LinkedIn