𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺’𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗲𝘀 – 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹

Last night, I commentated for TNT Sports on AC Milan vs Lazio – Milan lost at home 2-1, and the lack of confidence was there for all to see.

Throughout my career, I’ve witnessed numerous teams facing confidence crises, both in football and business.

The principles of rebuilding team spirit and performance remain remarkably similar across both domains.

When confidence is low, the first step is always to return to fundamentals.

In football, this means focusing on basic passing, movement, and positioning. In business, it’s about revisiting core processes and key performance indicators.

During challenging periods, whether at Leeds United, Chelsea, Aston Villa, or with the England national team, we would dedicate entire sessions to these basics, rebuilding our foundation step by step.

The role of leadership becomes crucial during these times. Just as a manager and captain must maintain composure under pressure, business leaders must demonstrate unwavering belief in their team’s abilities.

Small wins become essential – in football, this might mean celebrating clean sheets, even for 45 minutes, before focusing on scoring; in business, it could be acknowledging small improvements in customer satisfaction before targeting larger goals.

Communication patterns need adjustment during low-confidence periods. At Leeds, our manager, Howard Wilkinson, would break down complex tactical instructions into smaller, achievable tasks.

Similarly, business leaders should simplify objectives, making them more digestible and less overwhelming for their teams.

Team selection also plays a vital role. Sometimes, introducing fresh faces – whether new signings in football or new team members in business – can inject energy and optimism. However, experience shows that maintaining a core group of reliable performers helps stabilize the team during turbulent times.

The training ground atmosphere, like the office environment, needs careful management. We found that mixing intense, focused sessions with lighter, team-building activities helped maintain morale while improving performance. Ok, maybe our team-building activities went a little too far….! 🙂

This balance between serious work and positive energy is equally vital in a business context.

What’s your strategy for rebuilding confidence in your team?

#𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 #𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 #𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞