Match McGinley - Masterclass in leadership

The way in which Paul McGinley conducted his role as Europe’s Ryder Cup leader should be studied and emulated by every CEO, senior manager, and politician in the country — including Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

McGinley’s secret is that he was not only a man with a plan, he exhibited leadership, meticulous attention to detail, and an easy way of communication that helped him command huge respect among team members. He did more listening than lecturing and when he made mistakes, he acknowledged them openly and — more importantly — learned from them.

He made the task look easy, mould 12 elite golfers — who usually compete against each other — into a world-class team with a single objective: retaining the Ryder Cup.

By way of contrast, the US team captain, Tom Watson, might have had better playing credentials, but he was dictatorial and distant and never fully engaged with his team.

Considering how the Taoiseach has mishandled the McNulty affair, perhaps he should give McGinley a call for a few tips on how to run a winning team.