THE RECENTLY concluded club football season in Europe, has been marked by a new winner in nearly every competition. Chelsea defied the odds by sinking Bayern Munich in the Champions League final. Manchester City produced an alkaline result, to the EPL litmus test. Madrid had very Real reasons to celebrate in breaking the Barcelona hegemony in La Liga. Juventus ensured that the only things ramped up in Milan were the fashion shows. All over Europe, there was a changing of the old guard.
But those who dismissed these as merely events unfolding on the football pitch, are perhaps turning a blind eye, to the much deeper lessons these shifts have uncovered. For in exhibiting how newer challengers have risen to the top, they have illuminated the triumph of certain strategies. And the dethronement of the existing kings has shown everyone, from the sporting world to the business one, that the head which bears the crown truly has an uncertain future at the top.
Not having a plan B
Barcelona has surely been the greatest footballing team in Europe, over the last five years. But their decline in both the Spanish domestic competition, and their semi final exit in the Champions League, does uncover an interesting insight relevant to business strategy. And that is, no matter how good one is at one’s own playing game, it always pays to have another approach to the problem.
The sight of watching the Barcelona players trying to unlock the Chelsea defense, with their wonderfully intricate short passing style, does bear this out. However brilliant the conceptualization of the moves, Chelsea were prepared better, because they knew Barcelona would never try another modus operandi. And that anticipation helped them come out on top.
In today’s ever evolving business environment, placing all your eggs in one strategic basket only, is almost inviting the venture to fail. The need to explore and have other strategic and tactical alternatives ready, if the preferred approach does not bear any results, is a strident one. As those little magicians maneuvering the ball about Barcelona’s midfield tragically found out.
Getting the stars to shine together
Both Real Madrid and Manchester City, symbolized the triumph of the same core strategy this season. This was christened a few years back by Florentino Perez (Real’s president) as ‘the galacticos’. This approach commonly represents bringing together an expensive assembly of talent from outside, to take on the challenge. But that is usually only half the story.
The inimitable Jose Mourinho and the irrepressible Roberto Mancini; do deserve a generous spot of credit. Because it was their guiding influence which held sway over the playing style of these two clubs. It was their efforts, which brought these diverse stars together, and ensured that they began contributing to the team cause.
Often stars bring to the table their own set of problems. And ensuring that each has his own space to contribute, and develops an understanding of what the organization is trying to achieve, becomes the mandate of every leader in such a scenario, as does keeping all the massive egos in check. But when smooth synergy is achieved, the results are often colossal triumphs, like Real and City fans are savoring right now.
An over reliance on the old guard
Manchester United were beaten to the EPL title, by the team they would have least liked to have lost it to, their cross town neighbors-Manchester City. But while City embraced ‘the galacticos’ strategy over the last few years, United was guilty in its rather static approach.
Sir Alex Ferguson will undoubtedly go down in footballing history, as one of the all time great managers. But this season, there were cracks that began to appear, in his once redoubtable managerial approach. The reluctance of looking beyond old playing legends was palpable all season. Evident also was the lack of drive in terms of seeking new blood. United were literally functioning on ‘auto pilot’. And it was only down to the great character of the club, its players and manager; that the championship went all the way down to the wire. Else they had been punching above their weight for quite a while.
Hugely successful organizations need to be extra cognizant of the trappings of success. Often these lead to a rigidity in thought process. Frequently the core team also stays the same, even when there is a clear need for newer perspective to be inducted. The functioning style gets cast in stone, and no alternatives are sought. And that’s when decay begins to set in. Hopefully Sir Alex will ensure Manchester United does not see red on all these issues going forward.
The power of no expectations
Nobody expected much of Chelsea as the New Year dawned. The club was languishing mid table in the premier league, they were toying with elimination from the Champions League, and their manager seemed to be at loggerheads with the players. But after Andre Villas Boas was sacked and Roberto De Matteo came in as the interim manager, a magical transformation took place.
Because the club was going through a transition phase, everyone seemed to recalibrate their expectations. The owner stopped breathing down the manager’s neck for trophies, the players built bridges with their new manager, and things began to wonderfully turn around. Chelsea won the FA Cup in grand style. And last week they crowned the turnaround by bagging the biggest prize of them all-The Champions League.
There is something very liberating which happens when expectations are lowered. Organizations stretch for the impossible. Employees begin to express themselves. And truly extraordinary events take place. Pressure never really helps anyone in the quest for excellence, especially that inflicted from outside. And hopefully authorities at Chelsea learn to back off a bit. Now that they have seen what can happen when the team plays with nothing to lose.
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As Europe brings the curtains down on its club season, we are left with great memories to savor. Memories which spark ideas way beyond the confines of the football pitch. Be it the need to definitely have an alternate approach. Or the drive to bring star team mates together more cohesively. Perhaps the urge to abandon past methods of success has been illuminated. Maybe you have seen the benefit of creating a culture of lesser pressure and expectations.
Football has the power to linger in ones thinking, much after the final whistle has blown. Perhaps it is time to celebrate that influence, as one returns to the work at hand.
