Beyond the pitch: what business can learn from England’s footballers
How many of you are feeling rather dejected after watching England lose to Spain last night? We know we are. We’re not typically big football fans at Cosy Meerkat, but there is something about the collective experience of watching your national team that feels special; we all really wanted England to bring that trophy home. And while we might not be expert football pundits we do know a thing or two about business and it struck us that two of the qualities crucial to success in team sports – leadership and communication – are also what’s needed in business. And that, actually, when you think about it, there’s more that business can learn from football than it might first seem.
So, we thought we’d add our own unique internal comms slant into today’s commentary on the game: what can business learn from England’s performance at the Euros?
Teamwork makes the dream work. The best teams are made up of people who have different skill sets but who work together, using these different skills in a way that complements and enhances. But bringing a great team together isn’t always easy, particularly when you have your pick of the best individuals – people who are likely very aware of how talented they are and who are used to working with different teams under different leaders. You can have a room (or a football pitch) full of the most talented individuals in the world but if they don’t collaborate, they’ll never achieve the greatness you believed they could.
Steadfast, brave leadership is crucial. Up until the game against Slovenia, the media, fans and armchair pundits were all rather frustrated by England’s performance. But then the blame shifted onto Gareth Southgate. People were questioning his decisions, whether he had what it took to make his team deliver. It can be similar in business – the leader under the spotlight, facing immense pressure and stress as they try to guide their teams through a challenging period. It doesn’t matter how well they might have done in the past, if things go wrong, if they fail to meet expectations, it’s frequently the leader who has to stand up and take the blame. Riding through such criticism takes grit and determination.
Resilience. If this team has shown us anything during their Euros campaign, it’s that resilience is crucial. The ability to put your head down and focus, to not bow to pressure and keep calm are all admirable skills. There’s a reason resilience is often talked about as the key to success.
Managing expectations. The pressure on the England team from the public and the media has been immense. And if there’s one thing we’re very glad of, it’s that, in our jobs, we don’t have to face the kind of hideous comments on social media that the England team have to. But this kind of pressure does mirror the expectations businesses face from customers, clients and employees. Managing these expectations, through clear communication and consistent performance, is essential for maintaining trust and confidence.
Dealing with disappointment. In a game of football one side has to lose (at least at the knockout stages anyway). Handling disappointment gracefully is part of the game. In business, setbacks are inevitable. What’s important is to learn from these experiences, so you can improve. It’s the kind of ‘can do’ attitude –that resilience we previously talked about – which helps maintain a positive outlook and paves the way for future success.
Celebrate achievements. When he was in opposition, our new Prime Minister reportedly said that if the Lionesses had won the World Cup then we should have celebrated with an extra bank holiday. Wouldn’t that have been a great way to make an amazing result feel even better? Celebrating wins not only boosts morale, it also makes people feel valued and it cements a culture that says we want to be successful. It’s why reward and recognition are key to employee engagement and motivation.
While football and business may seem worlds apart, we think it’s interesting how often the same principles apply. And it’s abiding by those principles, understanding the dynamics of leadership and teamwork, which can help all businesses achieve their goals.
