Turning a Teams Fortunes
๐ง๐๐ฟ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ ๐ง๐ฒ๐ฎ๐บ’๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐๐ป๐ฒ๐ – ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐๐ฏ๐ฎ๐น๐น
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….! ๐
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?
#๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ #๐๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ #๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ข๐๐๐ง๐๐