Leadership lessons from sport

Following on from the launch of our latest CEO Stories podcast this week, in which Intercity 's Charlie Blakemore discussed similarities between leadership in business and sport, it got me thinking about some of the finest examples of sports leadership and the lessons than can be applied in other industries.

The common denominator, of course, is people – understanding individuals, how they respond to different communication styles and what makes them achieve optimum performance levels.

Here are a few of my favourite sports leadership tales – based upon communication, empathy and the ability to think a little bit differently.

Sir Alex Ferguson

Many column inches have been written about the legendary Manchester United manager’s use of the “hairdryer” treatment to exert control or uphold standards.

However, a less talked-about characteristic is his ability to match the message to the moment.

“In halftime talks, you have maybe eight minutes to deliver your message, so it is vital to use the time well,” Ferguson said in an interview for Harvard Business School.

Contrary to the belief that Ferguson ruled by fear, another key takeaway from the Harvard interview was that “few people get better with criticism - most respond to encouragement instead. There is nothing better than hearing ‘well done.’ Those are the two best words ever invented.”

The simplicity of Ferguson’s messaging also empowered his team to make positive decisions.

Ex-United players say his team talks often amounted to as little as: “Go and win the game. You 11 players are better than their 11 players. Go and figure it out yourselves on the pitch.”

Johan Cruyff

An innovator who - alongside mentor Rinus Michels - pioneered the concept of ‘Total Football’, Cruyff inspired a generation of coaches including Pep Guardiola, Luis Enrique and Frank Rijkaard.

A firm believer that “football is a sport you play with your brain”, the Dutch master’s methods included asking players to swap positions with the person directly opposing them during training.

For example, a centre forward would be asked to play as a centre-back for the entirety of a session to broaden his view of the game.

One player this innovation was said to have a profound impact on was emerging Ajax talent Dennis Bergkamp, who developed a deeper understanding of his direct opponent’s role and mindset.

Bergkamp, best known for his 11-year spell at Arsenal, went on to become one of the most intelligent players of his generation. ?

Sir Dave Brailsford

Brailsford’s relentless pursuit of marginal gains helped Great Britain dominate cycling on the track and road.

His philosophy was to forget about external factors beyond the athlete’s control and, instead, focus on making small, incremental improvements in areas that impact on performance.

An example of these small gains came during his stint as boss of Team Sky, Britain’s road racing team who competed in the Tour de France.

A gruelling road race with an average 100-miles of cycling per day over a three-week period, ‘Le Tour’ also involves overnight stays between the 20+ stages, with competitors constantly having to adjust to different environments.

Team Sky’s support team transported the mattresses and pillows of riders through every stage, ensuring they gained a small advantage over their opponents by maintaining good posture and benefiting from better sleep and recovery time.?

Team Sky dominated ‘Le Tour’ during the 2010s, with four victories for Chris Froome and one each for Bradley Wiggins and Geraint Thomas. Sprinter Mark Cavendish also boasts a record-equalling 34 stage wins.?

Jose Mourinho

Despite being a divisive figure among football fans, Mourinho has a knack of galvanizing his players.

In his first spell at the helm of Chelsea, the Portuguese manager nurtured a culture of respect, togetherness and a ‘siege mentality’ – the root of which captain John Terry traces back to Mourinho’s first pre-season tour of the USA in 2004.

Having put in the hard yards on the training field, Terry, in his role as captain, asked Mourinho if the squad could have a night out.

“Yes” was the response, but with a strict midnight curfew.

Knowing full well Terry and the squad would be disappointed by his arbitrary curfew, Mourinho instructed Terry to ring him at midnight to seek an extension to the festivities.

“When you do, it’ll be a yes – but don’t tell anyone,” he said.

As the clock struck midnight, Terry followed the orders of his boss. With the squad gathered round, waiting in anticipation to learn their fate, Terry phoned Mourinho who gave them the green light to stay out for a few more hours.?

By asking Terry to make the late phone call, rather than agreeing to an extended curfew beforehand, Mourinho established an additional layer of trust and respect between manager, captain and team-mates.

According to Terry, this helped to foster a positive environment which led to Chelsea winning that season’s Premier League, while setting a host of records including most clean sheets and fewest goals conceded.

CEO Stories is a monthly podcast from Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce . The latest episode, featuring Intercity group managing director and former Chasetown Football Club manager Charlie Blakemore is streaming now wherever you get your podcasts.