The other week after watching England’s final 6 nations game, people were calling for Eddie Jones to step down. I remember when he took head coach role and he was immediately very successful, and for a few years after. But slowly over the years he seems to be losing his touch.
And it got me thinking about work as its the same how new people are often treated when they first start. If you get a new job or a new boss (new brush sweeps clean!), you/they might initially do really well and your all sussing each other out but over time people change the way they speak to you etc.
Do we too quickly lose tolerance for each other
3 comments
The saying is: *Familiarity breeds contempt*
When someone is new, you’re not really buying into them, you’re buying into their potential. “Think of what Eddie Jones will do come the world cup”. “Steve’s great, he’s already optimised our spreadsheets, at this rate, think of where we’ll 6 months time!”
Then you reach that point and it doesn’t quite end up there, you now judge someone on their history, rather than their future.
Also, the people in question also change, whether intentionally or not.
In your Eddie Jones example, new coach, players know that any previous good favour or brownie points with the old coach is gone, so they try harder with the new coach to earn/keep their spots.
Players will also respond to the new ideas and training sessions, and are more likely to be enthusiastic towards them. Think about any major changes in your life, new house, new job, new relationship etc. Those first few months you are far more enthusiastic than the end the first year.
After a while, enthusiasm wanes as things become the norm. Eddie Jones will have built relationships with certain players, and may be clouded a little by sentiment.
I think in sport sooner or later a manager or coach is going to have a hard time. Success is great but it won’t last forever. You make a poor decision or can’t buy the players you want and other teams come past you.
Even Alex Ferguson nearly went early on and Arsene Wenger was being asked to leave a couple of years before the end.
Sport fans expect success, especially when they are used to it. England are a top rugby team and are expected to at least win the 6 nations every year even though that is difficult.
Every manager that seems to go near Man Utd now gets a few weeks then gets torn apart because they can’t get close to Liverpool or Man City. It’s arguably not entirely the managers fault but down to the club as well but the owners obviously won’t sack themselves as long as they are making money.