BRW | May 8-14 2008 | Joh Stensholt | pg 62

John Eales is fascinated by people. Using the leadership, teamwork and networking skills learned from a career in top-class rugby union -including a five-year stint as captain of the Wallabies - Eales has established a career as an expert in workplace culture and people development.

Last October, Eales sold his business, Mettle Group, to listed recruitment and human resources adviser Chandler Macleod Group.  Under the terms of the agreement, he also assumed a senior management role with Chandler Macleod.

Eales established Mettle Group in 2003 with former Michael Page International executive Ian Basser.  At that time, he says, he was looking for a role using the skills he had developed in sport. Mettle helps companies improve their business by suggesting improvements to their leadership, workplace culture and organisational structure. “We do a lot of work around culture,” Eales says. “That can involve systems and procedures and things such as person’s mindset or leadership skills.”

Eales says his sporting career taught him skills that are transferable to business. “There are things such as leadership and getting along with people. But there are also matters such as how to influence people, to help them deal with stress, for example, and how to get the best out of them.” He emphasises he was keen not to use his rugby union career as an advantage when he moved into a corporate role.

“To use your past exclusively to help you is a mistake, but it’s also a mistake to not use it at all. Somewhere in between is probably the best balance.”

Eales was also a board member of QM Technologies, which was taken over by Computershare last year, and the Sydney Cancer Centre. Before Mettle Group, he established the John Eales 5 corporate hospitality business, which is now part of sports management firm International Quarterback.  Earlier  this year, he was appointed to the Visy Group advisory board, which alsoincludes former Telstra executive Ted Pretty. 

Last year, Eales released a book based on a series of interview with famous sporting people, in which he discussed leadership ideas and principles. He is working on a new book, this time interviewing senior business executives.

There are many similarities between business leaders and sports stars, he says “These people don’t get where they are without being intensely competitive.”