Business Lessons From The Beautiful Game!
Believe it or not; I have great admiration for
sports managers, particularly those who manage
elite clubs; whether it is soccer, American
football, basketball, or just about any sport
played at the highest level.
Let me share with you some of my (BUSINESS)
reasons:
1. Fans are important:
If you lose the support of the fans, you are out
of a job!
(It is the same with customers in a business.)
2. Competition:
Top managers compete, according to the rules
of the game. If you play soccer, you do not
expect to win, using your hands, or try to cut a
deal with the football authorities that apply only
to your team....that is called cheating!
(Using political influence to impede your
competitors, or make life difficult for them, is not
business.)
3. Respect your competitors:
The sport is at its most exciting when the best
teams are pitted against each other. The
manager enjoys the competition and the players
enjoy the competition. If you hate competition, or
believe it should be impeded to give you an
advantage, then you are not a sportsman.
(A good business person, enjoys competition,
and shows respect towards competitors. Never
hate or disdain those with whom you compete.)
4. Strategy and tactics:
The best managers are known for their brilliance
in both strategy and tactics. A good manager
knows that he can beat a superior team, using
effective strategy, and tactics... This is business
2.0!
5. Organizational efficiency:
Good managers understand the importance of an
effective organization of their team. A game can
be won or lost, if your team has the wrong
shape, or field formation; even if you have the
best players. The players must play as a unit,
and play for each other, on the pitch.
(Remember my posts on how to build an
effective organization.)
6. Effective use of information:
Good managers have a lot of information on their
own team, and also on the competitors. Today's
manager uses statistical data, showing them the
performance of each player on the field.
(A good manager uses proper data, and not here-
say, about what is going on, in their business,
their competitor, and the market.... Be scientific
and professional when assessing performance of
your business.)
7. Last season is last season:
Nothing more to add here!
(Stop living on past glory!!!)
8. You must continuously invest in players, and
also in coaching.
(Your business is only as good as your ability to
attract stars onto your team...Every season...So
who was the last star you recruited?
....What was the last training program you did?)
9. Experience is very important, but don't make a
virtue of it. You cannot have a 50 year old on the
pitch!
10. Performance on the pitch is all that matters.
(There is no place for philosophers in the
dressing room, or the boardroom.)
11. Profitability:
A manager who does not understand how money
is made in football, will destroy the team.
12. Succession:
"This too applies in business".
A good manager always has a program to recruit
and develop young talent. Some of the top clubs
in the world recruit their stars, when they are as
young as 9 years old.
13. Training:
The best managers are also great coaches.
14. Handling a loss:
To win is important, but also to handle a defeat,
and pick up your team after a defeat, is very
important. Do it quickly, and prepare for the next
game.
15.Discipline: nothing to add here!
Once you are on the pitch, you do not want your
players trying to do their own thing!
(Even in business.)
16. Innovate or die:
Nothing to add.
17. There are no prizes for second place....
Particularly in business!
18. Don't glorify mediocrity:
When you lose a game you have lost.
(If your business is not doing well, its not doing
well. Don't pretend it is, because the only person
you are fooling is yourself.)
19. Passion, passion, passion....
20. Failure is called relegation:
(In business we call it bankruptcy.)
21. Communicate effectively:
On and off the pitch, continuously.
(This too applies to business.)
Conclusion:
How like business, is the beautiful game!
Let's play the beautiful game.


author Dr Strive Masiyiwa
source: www.schoolnetwork.io