Leadership lessons from Argentina's match against Netherlands
Full disclosure first, I’m form Argentina, and I’m still ecstatic about yesterday’s accomplishments.
I’ve seen my fair share of Argentinian matches thought my life. I’ve seen them rise and fall to different opponents. Pushing their limits to the max when Extended Time comes. But I’m not here to talk about our guts, our spirit, our even our players.
Yesterday I’ve seen, probably, one of the best examples of leadership. People who know me, know that I'm not big for soccer metaphors or analogies, but this time I had to give in.
Basic football fact. The leader inside the field it’s not the Coach, it’s the Captain. You know, the guy wearing that armband.
He is in charge of pushing the team to the max, giving his support, challenging all the possible boundaries, and keeping up the overall strategies.
Argentina is said to have the best player in the world, Lionel Messi. His skills are astonishing, and absolutely has no match in the field. For the Argentinian coach, that was a no-brainer question, Messi MUST be the one wearing the “C” of Captain in his arm.
Lets take a moment and consider a normal working environment, that’s not entirely an unusual deception right?. The best salesman gets promoted to team leader, the best coder is promoted to team leader, and so on and so forth.
Now, nobody asked the most importan question about the captains/leader duty. Is the best salesman, coder or player the real team leader? Does he fulfills all the duties and responsibilities bestowed upon him?
Yesterday’s game showed me the precise example on how a leader should behave, how a leader should lead, encourage, and have their team members back, but most of all -and that’s precisely my point, how a true leader is not always the guy that has the armband with the “C” or the title.
Every Argentinian that saw yesterday's game (and I doubt that there is a single soul who didn't) would have to agree that the leadership was entirely his, no questions asked, he was the leader. I'm talking about this guy...
Javier Alejandro Mascherano, he was the true leader, the true captain.
Nobody will argue with the following facts: he most certainly is not the best player in the world, he is not the best defender in the world, he is not the fastest, he’s not even the lead scorer in the team. But he is without any doubt the true Argentinian’s Team Captain on the field, in the dressing rooms and with the press
Lets just review some facts of Yesterday’s game:
- He was constantly keeping in order the defense. Keeping an overall view of the opponent’s play.
- He challenges every rival as if it was the last play of his life, the team came first, then his wellbeing.
- Even though he was organizing the defense, he was defending also, and when things got rough, he pulled it though.
- He ran approximately 12.06 miles during the game, almost 20% more than the average player of 10.46 miles.
And I saved the best example of Mascherano’s leadership for the last.
- He approaches Sergio Romero, Argentina's goalkeeper, right before the penalty kicks started and delivers the ultimate pep-talk: “Today is a day you’ll never forget. Today, today, you’ll make yourself a hero” .
Aren’t this the traits we look for in a true leader?
- To be the person that has the "bird's eye" view of the plan and keeps you focused with the task at hand.
- The one that leads by the example, pushing everybody to be their best selves and reach their maximum potential.
- Who's actions are selfless and in the team's best interest.
- Some one who has your back, some one to trust.
The leaders don’t need to be wearing some armband, loved by the press, be in the spotlight, and on everybody’s mouth. True leaders relinquish personal glory and they are always more than happy to have the spotlight on the team's accomplishments.
What do you think? Have you worked in organizations where the person with the “C” wasn’t the actual leader? Can you name a leader you’ve met and how it changed you?