Andy Moran has been a member of the Mayo Senior Football Team since 2003 and has won 8 Connacht Titles. Andy was awarded 2 All Stars in 2011 & 2017 and won Player of the Year in 2017.
Andy is the owner of The Movement Gym located in Castlebar in Co. Mayo which he opened in June 2015 and currently employs 7 staff. He is married to Jennifer and they have two children Charlotte & Ollie.
What has sport taught you about leadership?
Most of my key influencers throughout my life have come from a sporting background. In a very important time in a person’s life (the teenage years) I was very fortunate to be surrounded with great coaches within my club. They showed me the importance of sport in providing discipline and direction to young people. They also gave me guidance in how to give yourself the best opportunity to excel in your chosen activity. When things are tough both in work and in sporting situations I constantly revert back to what these coaches taught us as teenagers. Another great lesson sport has taught me is that within a team not everyone is the same or has the same motivations to be the best they can be. The important role of any great leader is to find the motivations of each and everyone of their team. I feel great leaders always care for the person’s interests more than their own. If a leader can show they truly care about the person success will follow.
What are the essential components to building a winning team?
There are many essential components to building a winning team. The first and most important component is team work. The team needs to be united in its purpose and this comes from the top down. Success is a bi product of effort. The role of the leader/manager of the team is to get each team member giving as much effort as they can as often as they can.
What is one characteristic that you believe every leader should possess?
I don’t think you can identify one quality a leader needs to have. There are many characteristics and many types of leaders. I think all leaders need to be hard working, loyal, have great initiative and self control.
If you could wind back the clock to when you were starting your sporting career what advice would you give yourself?
Be the hardest worker and have the most fun. Play multiple sports and concentrate on today because the past is gone and the future you have no control over.
What leaders outside your own organisation do you admire and why?
Bill Belichick. I love his self control. Aidan O’ Brien. I love his lack of ego. John Hume. Broke down the barriers to gain a successful peace process. Left self interests behind.
What are a few resources (books, blogs, podcasts, courses etc) you would recommend to someone looking to gain insight into becoming a better leader?
“The Obstacle is The Way”by Ryan Holiday, “Ego is the Enemy” by Ryan Holiday, ” Wooden on Leadership” by John Wooden & Steve Jameson.
