While empathy isn’t everything, a good dose of it certainly helps bring people aboard. We’re in the information era where people are doing ‘knowledge work’ – in such an environment, emotional intelligence is a true weapon. Top-down command and control is an outdated system, so leaders who are able to relate to others and find common ground have a much higher success rate. If empathy doesn’t come naturally to you, consider working harder at seeing the world through the eyes of the person you’re leading. In this film, McGinley tells aspiring leaders to “have a plan”. He qualifies it with a footnote, here. “You’ve got to be creative with it.” He says you need a plan A, B and C and also the aptitude to scrap it altogether. He has always felt ardently about the team format, a point that was recognised by Colin Montgomerie who named him as one of his Vice Captains for The Ryder Cup at The Celtic Manor Resort. Paul has been on the winning team for The Ryder Cup, Seve Trophy, World Cup and Royal Trophy, a true golfing champion. Paul’s best year came in 2005, during which he finished runner-up three times before concluding a wonderful year with a victory in the Volvo Masters at Valderrama. Leadership is everything in the Ryder Cup. Yes, it comes down to the players to sink the putts, but for that to happen effectively their mood, motivation and readiness has to be at the highest level.

Why would the players need me to validate their playing? They had 60,000 cheering fans for that,” he says.After entering amateur championships, Paul was selected for the 1991 Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team, and turned professional in late 1991, joining a year later in 1992, aged 25. Mulqueen, Charlie (21 April 2012). "McGinley born to lead". Irish Examiner . Retrieved 15 January 2013. Foley, Alan (23 January 2013). "McGuiness (sic) only too willing to help out McGinley". Donegal Democrat . Retrieved 23 January 2013. From before he was appointed, McGinley's every thought and move was designed to create such a platform for his European team. Prior to his illustrious professional career, McGinley took up golf as an injury prevented him from paying football. After winning the Irish Amature Close Championships in 1989 followed by 1991 South of Ireland Championship got him selected for the Britain & Ireland Walker Cup in 1991. An impressive performance confirmed his destiny and later that year he turned professional.

Faldo was asked: "Since you became captain, many of your decisions have been criticised. In the wake of this defeat, you'll receive more criticism tomorrow no doubt from the British press. I wonder, do you care, and if not, why not?" U.S. Beats Britain-Ireland, Regains Walker Cup". Los Angeles Times. 7 September 1991 . Retrieved 13 February 2013. In the 2010 and 2012 matches, McGinley served as one of the European vice-captains to Colin Montgomerie and José María Olazábal respectively. On 15 January 2013, he was named the Europe team captain for the 2014 Ryder Cup. [17] [18] [19] Being self-aware allowed him to shore up his weaknesses – to the extent that he not only became a focused leader, he was scrupulous. His players praised him as “meticulous” for his leadership skills during the Ryder Cup when his opposition Tom Watson – who yes, might have been a bigger name in golf – allegedly left his team wanting.Seve Trophy (representing Great Britain & Ireland): 2002 (winners), 2005 (winners), 2009 (winners, non-playing captain), 2011 (winners, non-playing captain) Behind the scenes, he warned his team not to take their foot off the pedal and reminded them how easy a four-point lead was to wipe out. “That was me hitting a shot on the first tee,” he says: leading from the front. It is watched by its most impassioned spectators and all 24 players on show in Perthshire were, undoubtedly, motivated to win the trophy. Diversity in teams results in more information at the team's disposal, but also lower group cohesion. The best and worst groups are diverse - how one manages the resulting conflict is key to getting the benefits of diversity without the costs.