The Importance of Influence

Is it the most powerful tool of a successful leader? Possibly so. I’ll leave that one the my Dad as he likes to ponder it more than me. Still, whatever its place in the grand scheme of things, it is important. Those involved in training teams must have it in some capacity if they are to succeed. In that sense, I can probably claim some traces of it as can Conan and Colin who have been pillars of our set-up.
This year we’ve seen it in different ways. Rochey’s early season command of sessions showed he has the respect of the lads and thus can successfully cajole them into different forms of punishment.

It seems too long since we mentioned our friend Mike McGurn. He has possibly had the biggest influence on everyone this year. He opened guys’ eyes to so many things from weight training to training intensity to diet and hydration.

In terms of the weight training, his visit coincided perfectly with a deal we brokered with World Class gym, just off Place Luxembourg. Memberships for as low as €30 a month are on offer in one of the most convenient and friendly gyms around. Go in there any evening and you’ll bump into the lads in the weights room. Tonight it was John Harkin. Last Friday it was Collins, Diarmuid, Harkin, Paul Hagan, The Fridge and Shane Griff. Little things like this give lads an opportunity to mix off the pitch and out of the pub. McGurn hit the switch.

Different guys will have more of a background in gym work and can step up and take the lead in showing the rest of us. These days its Diarmuid. He has a wealth of experience from his rugby background and is generous with his time. Lads aren’t in there to be like a Dublin footballer, they are just keen to expand their exercise options.

Diet and Hydration is another one the topics McGurn touched upon. Ollie told me a couple of months ago that he hadn’t touched a frozen pizza in months. You see lots more lads carry water around, even when we are sitting around watching matches. Maybe the best example was last week when we were camping. When lunch time arrived, the container loads of pasta came out. Fruit rather than chocolate was the snack thereafter. I don’t know about the lads, but McGurn influenced my diet and hydration alot (although there is a bit to go yet!!).

Getting back to the training, again, Diarmuid is bringing a lot to the table. We’ll tap into his knowledge about speed work and that kind of thing while he is here. Also, his attitude at training is top notch. He comes to work and that influences others.

We were lucky with the others that arrived on the boat with him. I met Griff and The Fridge in the gym last week. It was a baking Friday night. Our default option would be to hit Place Lux for 10 hours drinking but the lads had other plans, preferring to chill out and head for the cinema. Shane Ryan is another. His influence has come to the fore in recruitment. There’s no lad in the Parliament who hasn’t been invited along to join up.

Of course we have an abundance of others who have laid their mark but the guys above brought new and different things to the table this year. We’ve seen the power of influence all through the club this year. Key to unleashing it is for the powers to be to release it and not mind their patch too securely. Maybe I did it in the last couple of years, shooting down ideas too easily and trying to dictate too much. Possibly it was required in some ways as we grew but this year it became clear that others have a lot to offer, right back to Johnny Phelan’s mail to McGurn back in January.