The Power of Great Leadership Gave Me Extraordinary Personal Moments.

@Life occasionally presents us with extraordinary moments that act as subtle hints about who we are and what we can become. Often, these hints go unnoticed until much later. In my life, there have been many such moments. One stands out—an unexpected email from an old friend after more than forty years. He had found me through Google and wanted me to know something that struck me deeply.

“I always knew you’d become a motivator,” he wrote.

“What?” I replied. “We were rough sleeping with nothing but our names to sustain us.”

“I know, Mike, but back then, your words kept us going and you beat off predators with that sharp Scottish tongue of yours.”

Who knew? Certainly not I. We caught up, and he even made the trip to Edinburgh to see me. However, the story I want to share takes me back to the 1978/79 football season and the leadership lessons I gleaned from the unlikeliest of encounters.

The Rise of Nottingham Forest

Under Brian Clough’s leadership, Nottingham Forest had transformed from obscurity to becoming high-flyers. Clough had already taken Derby County to the pinnacle of English football and a European Cup Semi-Final. Now, he was working similar magic at Forest. How did a team with no big names rise so far, so fast? I had to see it for myself.

I travelled to watch Forest play the seemingly unbeatable Liverpool in the first leg of a European Cup tie. That night, Clough introduced Gary Birtles, an unknown signing from Long Eaton FC, into the pressure cooker of European football. Against all odds, Birtles scored. I began to see a pattern in Clough’s genius—an uncanny ability to turn doubt into belief.

When Forest reached the semi-final against German champions Cologne, I made another trip, staying at the Trent Bridge Hotel overlooking the City Ground. The match ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw, leaving Forest with a daunting task to win the away leg.

A Chance Encounter

That night, back at the hotel bar, I met team captain John McGovern and Scottish World Cup hero Archie Gemmell. They were clearly deflated, believing they’d blown their chance. I mentioned that I’d seen Cologne play Rangers in an earlier round and noted their defensive frailties against high crosses. I assured them they could win the return leg if they exploited this weakness.

A fortnight later, Forest did just that—scoring a crucial header to secure victory in Germany. A few days later, an envelope arrived at my home. It was from John McGovern, thanking me for lifting their spirits and providing insights that proved decisive. Inside was also a newspaper clipping of McGovern’s column in the @NottinghamPost, where he acknowledged my small but impactful role in their triumph.

Forest went on to beat Malm? in the final, bringing the European Cup back to Nottingham.

A Meeting with Alex Ferguson

In November 1983, I watched Forest defeat Celtic on another European night. This time, my hotel was the Landmark. At the bar, I met Alex Ferguson, who was then dominating Scottish football and had recently led Aberdeen to victory over Real Madrid in the European Cup Winners’ Final. We spoke briefly, and while I won’t disclose a decision he shared with me about a player, it demonstrated the genius of his leadership.

Years later, at an event in the House of Lords, I recounted this meeting to Sir Alex. He remembered it, and we reflected on the qualities that make leaders like him and Brian Clough extraordinary.

Leadership Lessons

Leadership is a rare and special quality. Brian Clough and Sir Alex Ferguson, though different in style, shared an extraordinary ability to make the impossible seem possible. Their roots in the mining and shipbuilding communities forged a steeliness and resilience that they passed on to their teams. They inspired belief, fostered confidence, and turned ordinary individuals into champions.

Whether on the pitch or in life, the lesson is clear:great leaders see potential where others see limitations and inspire those around them to achieve greatness.

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