Woodward, who led England to victory in Australia in 2003, advised The Travel Network Group members and supplier partners that in his experience of training elite sportspeople, including star fly-half Jonny Wilkinson, “great teams are made of great individuals”.

“By making sure each staff member is given the means and opportunity to realise their potential and develop themselves the team stuff will just look after itself,” he said.

During his seven-year tenure in charge of England, Woodward was lauded for his use of in-game analytics and sports science, an approach he said delegates should consider taking on themselves, adding: “Whoever wins in IT tends to win”.

However, the former England and Lions rugby international, who has also served as director of elite performance for the British Olympic Association, warned delegates that the attitude with which they approach these changes was paramount.

Bosses, he said, should look for staff “with sponges between their ears, not rocks… people with a thirst for knowledge and understanding”.

He also highlighted the benefits of preparing to act in difficult, high-pressure situations using his own strategy, TCUP (thinking correctly under pressure), and cited its use in the sporting arena.

“Really top teams think about pressurised situations all the time – it helps take you into a different level” he advised. “We practised [Jonny Wilkinson’s World Cup-winning drop goal] in our sleep.”