The All Blacks’ “Sweep the Sheds” principle goes beyond just tidying up. It’s about fostering a culture of care, humility, and shared responsibility.
In the video, Alice explains how this principle can operate on two levels:
Physical Environment: Taking care of the spaces we occupy, from staff rooms to community areas.
Psychological Environment: Creating a safe, supportive atmosphere where team members feel valued and can voice concerns without fear.
For leaders, “Sweeping the Sheds” means that they are leading by example in maintaining both physical and psychological environments.
In the physical environment, “sweeping the sheds” shows that nobody is too big to do the small things that need to be done. It also helps encourage a culture where everyone, regardless of status, contributes to the team.
The impact of this mantra can also feed into the psychological environment of the team, creating a supportive structure, increasing visibility, and maintaining humility. These three benefits can help to enhance a team performance, confidence and innovation.
Remember, the environment we create directly impacts how we think and perform.
