Watching football taught me 4 things about running a business
The world cup final 2022 was undeniably one of the most dramatic and memorable matches in world cup history. It was a big consolation amid the gloomy economic weather. Being a football enthusiast and a leader of a recruitment consultancy, I couldn’t help but finding striking similarities in managing a football team and a company. Through reflecting on the successes and failures in football, I have come up with four pieces of advice for your business.
1. Your style is your strategy
Successful football teams are known for their styles. For example, Brazil is famous for playing their Samba-soccer style that is heavily influenced by samba dance and Capoeira, a kind of afro-Brazilian martial art. Samba soccer is also known as ‘ginga’, meaning ‘sway’ in English. It characterises the way Brazil national football team attack in their game and enables them to be more aggressive than others. Statistically, Brazil ranks in the 96.9 percentile for goals per match, expected goals (xG) per match, and shots per match. Their style has become their strategy to win. No other teams can play football in the same way as Brazil does. All other strong teams have their own style. Germany is about movement and efficiency, Italy is notable for its defensive formation, England is physical and crafty in using direct long shots, Argentina is celebrated for their ‘Potrero’ football style that is exceptional at improvisation.
Running a company is no different. A leader needs to examine the DNA of the team and come up with a winning strategy. If you are good at ‘attack’, you should develop strategies to acquire new business as quick as possible. If you are ‘defensive’, you should spend your resources on converting your customers to brand ambassadors, alongside with a thorough customer retention plan.
2. Employees are the greatest assets and liabilities
All top players cost millions to recruit. For example, Donny van de Beek, a Manchester United midfielder, who has only made four appearances overall and 85 minutes of accumulated playing time in Premier League games in 2022/2023, is earning a salary of £140,000 per week. Phil Jones who had not appeared in 2022/2023 is also earning £110,000 per week.
Although your workers are not celebrities and wouldn’t normally cost you that much, salary constitutes the biggest chunk of company expenses. Employees are the greatest liabilities of many operating businesses, but they are also the greatest assets. Good employees, like excellent football players, shape your company’s culture, cheer on their co-workers and help you create the success you want. The flip side of this advice is, when you find a worker creating toxic environment in your company, do what Manchester United did with Cristiano Ronaldo, better to part ways at all costs.
3. Teamwork is key
Lionel Messi is undeniably the highlight of the Qatar’s World Cup. Finally winning the world cup after 17 years, Messi’s status as GOAT (Greatest of all time) is set as stone. Such status could not be achieved without the support of his team, particularly from Di Maria whom has known Messi since they were kids. Great players could not perform magic if their teammates are underperforming. Poland’s leader Robert Lewandowski, who is considered one of the best players just behind Ronaldo and Messi, scored only 2 goals in the World cup, and the team got knocked-out in the round of 16.
Everyone in the team must work towards the same goal. If ever one of the teammates got a red card, the team would be hugely disadvantaged with one player less.
Never underestimate the importance of each team player, including all admin and support staff. Just as the famous saying goes, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together’.
4. Your success depends on how you handle failures
Many people lost their hopes when they saw Argentina’s loss to Saudi Arabia (1-2) on their first match, but it has become their turning point. ‘After we lost to Saudi Arabia, we felt a love and support from our fans, the entire country, our people, and that was amazing because it gave us the strength and energy that we need to recuperate’, coach Lionel Scaloni later reflected. The coach had every reason to point fingers but instead, making the defeat an experience to bring out the grit to recover.
Before the final glory, Messi had become the first player to miss 2 penalties in the World Cup. If he had not let go of the failure, he would not be able to perform his best in the rest of the game. It is still too early to give up when you are 2 goals down, the match is yet to finish, and success could come when is least expected.
The same could be applied to business owners, don’t let failures hold on to you and be resilient. Your future self will thank you for that.