Ex-Bok coach on managing in a fish bowl

Speaker at the picture: Peter de Villiers had a few words of wisdom to share with UCT students.

Don't aim to be the best in South Africa. Aim to be the best in the world.

This was the message former Springbok rugby coach Peter de Villiers conveyed to UCT's postgraduate diploma in sports management class on 15 May.

Brought in to share some of his top-level experience of 'managing in a fish bowl', de Villiers imparted some invaluable insights into how to develop the thick skin necessary to perform optimally when one's every move and utterance is '“ often harshly '“ scrutinised by an interested media and public.

Leadership, says de Villiers, "is about putting yourself at the back of the line, and adding to success, because you yourself will not be the success". It's a lonely job, he says.

Successful leadership, he continued, is also not a top-down exercise.

"You're only a leader if people want to follow you," emphasises de Villiers. "You need to learn from other people every day."