When the Call Comes: Are You Ready to Step In?
A few weeks ago, I received a request from a client. Their Head of HR and Legal had resigned, leaving them with no immediate replacement. They asked me to be on standby to take over their global payroll at short notice if the need arose.
At the same time, I was watching France secure a hard-fought Six Nations Rugby Championship victory with their own take on the famed “Bomb Squad” strategy. Those who have worked with me know how naturally my mind shifts between business and sport – two arenas that share strikingly similar principles of leadership, performance, adaptability, and impact. This got me thinking about Impact Players – people who do not just fill a role but step up in crucial moments, bringing energy, clarity, and results when it matters most.
We see this in business all the time: pressure situations where things could go either way, and the difference between success and failure depends on having the right people who can rise to the occasion.
No team has mastered this better than the Springboks, South Africa’s national rugby team. Their legendary and ever-evolving Bomb Squad strategy – stacking the bench with powerful replacements who enter the game at just the right time – has changed the way teams think about impact. Business leaders would do well to take note.
What Makes an Impact Player?
Liz Wiseman, in her book Impact Players: How to Take the Lead, Play Bigger, and Multiply Your Impact, studied what separates people who make a real difference from those who just go through the motions. She found that Impact Players see what needs to be done and step up without being asked. They do not wait for permission, and they do not shy away from challenges – they run towards them.
Her research highlights five practices that differentiate Impact Players (true game-changers) from the rest:
- While others do their job, Impact Players do the job that’s needed.
- While others wait for direction, Impact Players step up and lead.
- While others escalate problems, Impact Players move things across the finish line.
- While others attempt to minimise change, Impact Players learn and adapt to change.
- While others add to the load, Impact Players make heavy demands feel lighter.
In essence, Impact Players go where they are needed most, shift their approach depending on the situation, and take ownership of challenges as if they were their own.
That sounds a lot like the Springboks’ Bomb Squad. These are not just second-string players waiting for a gap in the game to be called off the bench. Each one knows their role, understands their moment, and delivers exactly what’s needed to shift the momentum of a match.
Now, imagine if all businesses built teams with this same mindset.
The Bomb Squad Mindset in Business
The Springboks have redefined how substitutions work, sometimes fielding a 6-2 or even a 7-1 split (forwards to backs). The idea? When fresh players come in, they do not just maintain the team’s performance – they change the game.
Business leaders should ask themselves:
- Are we developing the kind of impact players who can step up when things get tough?
- Do we have people in our teams who can handle high-pressure moments and turn the tide in our favour?
If not, then we are simply relying on “good enough” contributors instead of fostering a culture of game-changers.
How to Develop Impact Players in Your Business
High-impact players are not born – they are developed. The best sports teams train their squads with clear roles, adaptability, and the ability to execute under pressure. Here is how businesses can do the same:
- Encourage Initiative, Not Just Execution: Most employees are trained to follow instructions. But Impact Players do not wait to be told what to do – they anticipate what is needed and take action. Leaders should create a culture where people feel empowered to step up, problem-solve, and make decisions without needing constant guidance.
- Define Roles, But Reward Flexibility: The Bomb Squad strategy works because each player knows their job – but they also have the ability to adapt. Businesses need specialists, yes, but they also need people who can pivot when the situation demands it. Just think of Deon Fourie stepping up as hooker during the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
- Use Technology as an Amplifier: Just as elite sports teams use data analytics to maximise player performance, businesses should leverage AI and digital tools to help employees make smarter, faster decisions. Technology should never replace human judgment, but it should enhance it – providing real-time insights that empower people to be more effective. The reality is that Impact Players embrace AI, allowing it to handle mundane, time-consuming tasks so they can focus on high-impact work. With responsible AI delivering relevant information in a format that works for them, they are free to concentrate on what truly moves the needle.
- Build a Culture of Ownership: In Wiseman’s research, she found that Impact Players take responsibility beyond their job descriptions. They do not say, “that’s not my problem” – they say, “how can I help?”. Businesses must cultivate an ownership mindset, where team members feel personally invested in the outcomes of the business, not just their individual tasks.
Spotting and Keeping Your Impact Players
One of the biggest risks businesses face is failing to recognise and retain their top-impact players. Unlike average performers, these individuals do not settle – they thrive on challenge and growth. If they do not find it within your organisation, they will go elsewhere.
Here is how to keep them engaged:
- Give them opportunities to take on meaningful challenges.
- Provide continuous learning and development.
- Recognise their contributions beyond just performance metrics.
- Align their personal growth with the company’s future vision.
Businesses that fail to reward and challenge their high-impact employees often wake up too late – when those people are already gone.
The Key Takeaway: Are You Building a Team of Game-Changers?
The Springboks’ Bomb Squad has proven that success is not about just having a bench – it is about having the right players, stepping in at the right time, to create game-changing impact.
The same is true in business.
As a leader, ask yourself:
- Who are my impact players?
- Am I developing the right talent for high-pressure moments?
- Does my team know how to shift momentum when things are not going our way?
Because when the game is on the line, you don’t want people who just show up. You want people who change the game.
Interested in delving deeper? Connect with Terrex today!
Looking forward to our next conversation
Keith Magill
Empowering your business through innovative human capital strategies
