Ten coaches from the Northumberland Cricket Board benefitted directly from the remarkable insights of leadership coach Stevie Ward during a flagship masterclass in Newcastle earlier this month.
Ward steered the group to understand and reflect on how authenticity can elevate both personal and team performance in sporting environments. The session, titled The Authentic Edge, was part of a pilot initiative aiming to empower county cricket leaders across England and Wales.
Victoria Wiegleb, Head of Education, Engagement and Support at the Cricket Regulator, said: “Last year, I invited Stevie to be on one of the discussion panels at our safeguarding conference and the feedback was incredibly positive.”
Following that event, further discussions explored a range of possible ways cricket could benefit from Ward’s ground-breaking research and his Authentic Leadership programme. And now, with the first pilot event being marked as a major success, Victoria says she was delighted with the participants’ response on the day.
Victoria said: “At first, I was thinking, ‘I wonder how this will go. We’ve got a group of young male coaches: are they going to roll their eyes and wonder why they’re here?’ But as the day went on, you could see things clicking for them. They began to really understand what Stevie was saying.
“There was one moment at the end where Stevie had everyone standing in a circle, and one of the coaches – someone who rarely speaks up and usually lacks confidence – spoke eloquently about what he’d learned. That moment was the highlight for me, and I can now see exactly how much potential this programme could have across cricket.”
Ward, who was forced to retire early from rugby league following a brain injury, has since become one of the UK’s leading voices on mental health. His public speaking consistently highlights how internal constraints and control-based behaviours can hinder effective leadership.
He said: “When we started the session, the group seemed a bit unsure of what to expect. But by the end, everyone understood the different emotional components of the authenticity loop. You could see them move toward greater authenticity, vulnerability, openness, and honesty, both with me and with each other. It was really validating to see it have such an impact. They left with a process they could take back to their teams and use with each other whenever needed.”
The impact of those lessons, Ward says, can be incredibly profound.
“Without going through vulnerability, you can’t reach courage. Without understanding authenticity and being able to live it, especially under pressure, you can’t see different options or possibilities. Emotional strain and a lack of psychological safety can hold people back from performing at their best.”
He added: “The more risk you’re willing to take, the more potential becomes available. During my rugby career, we often had that closeness, connection, and freedom that made a difference. Even when we were written off, we’d win Grand Finals from fifth place. I called it ‘the authentic edge.’ Other teams often lacked that connection and authenticity, and it would stifle them in key moments. For us, it was a superpower.
“When you have that level of openness, it allows total freedom and full commitment. Everyone takes responsibility, but also accepts whatever comes. That’s what we explored in the masterclass: how to create that environment and support each other through it. The model I use reflects those same dynamics I experienced as a player, both intentionally and unintentionally, and it always lands in the same place.”
Dan Shurben, Male Pathway Manager at Northumberland Cricket Board and one of the session participants, reflected on its relevance and value:
“The session was excellent. It felt very relevant to my role, and it was great to see how Stevie’s work connects with how I try to do things within my teams. The highlight was gaining clarity around psychological safety - how crucial it is that the players under my stewardship can perform without fear and feel comfortable in the team environment we shape.”
And speaking about the power of showing vulnerability, he added: “Being vulnerable is such an underrated skill. Allowing people or players to see that you're human and don’t always have all the answers only reinforces and strengthens relationships. I’d definitely recommend Stevie and the course to anyone in a similar role.”
Any cricket officials interested in working with Stevie Ward to unlock their team’s potential should contact Victoria Wiegleb (Victoria.wiegleb@cricketregulator.co.uk) for more information.