Conrad Smith: Coachability Unleashed, The Culture-Driven Approach to Rugby.

Coaching Culture with Ben Herring

Conrad Smith unpacks the anatomy of winning team culture with remarkable clarity and authenticity. Drawing from his 94 tests with the All Blacks and captaincy experience with the Hurricanes, Smith reveals how culture transcends motivational posters and becomes a living force within truly great teams.
Smith's framework for culture starts with vision—that high-level aspiration everyone buys into—but he quickly moves beyond theory to practical application. "Values are difficult," he acknowledges, "because any team can put 'trust' and 'teamwork' on a wall." The difference lies in behaviors: concrete actions that demonstrate values in real time. The famous All Blacks tradition of "sweeping the sheds" wasn't just symbolic but a tangible behavior reinforcing their commitment to staying grounded regardless of success.
Leadership emerges as the crucial final element, with Smith candidly reflecting on his own growth from a player who noticed problems but remained silent to one who respectfully held teammates accountable. His transformation accelerated when coach Mark Hammett controversially released several Hurricanes stars, forcing Smith to step up when nothing was left but "to make a difference." His goal wasn't championships but simply making players "want to be a Hurricane again"—prioritizing culture over silverware.
Perhaps most revealing is Smith's assessment of his own success despite physical limitations. "I was pinned under the bench press in my first gym session," he laughs, attributing his rise to being coachable—listening, asking good questions, and working relentlessly. This approach prevented coaches from having any excuse to drop him, even when he wasn't the strongest or fastest.
Ready to transform your team? Discover why culture isn't some "airy-fairy" concept but the bedrock of sustainable performance, and learn practical ways to build behaviors that reflect your values rather than just writing them on walls.

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Chapters

1. Conrad Smith: Coachability Unleashed, The Culture-Driven Approach to Rugby. (00:00:00)

2. Culture Is Not an Option (00:01:37)

3. Building Culture: Vision, Values, and Behaviors (00:07:06)

4. Leadership Development and Coach Responsibility (00:18:07)

5. Transforming the Hurricanes Culture (00:28:17)

6. Developing as a Leader (00:41:22)

7. The Value of Being Coachable (00:55:15)

8. Against Early Sport Specialization (01:03:02)

9. Key Takeaways (01:12:39)