You would have to have been living at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro with no mobile service to have missed the fact that the World Cup has been on. Gareth Southgate has been much talked about, his style is refreshing, and his results have allowed a nation to dare to dream…even if the dream is over.
Gareth Southgate wasn’t the expected or exciting choice for England Manager. His lack of Senior International football management experience was highlighted by many cynical football journalists – and many England fans were genuinely surprised that a man with around 3 years of club management experience was leading their national team. His success at the 2018 World Cup will not have surprised the much-maligned decision makers at the football association however. His three years as under 21 manager and a stint as head of Elite Football Development would have illustrated to them the true potential that no one else could see. It is no accident that England have over-achieved, despite the fine margins within football, this is a designed success. Business in that respect is no different. So, what can we learn from Gareth Southgate?
Make your team aware of your experience
Southgate’s record speaks for itself, he has been in the players’ shoes and experienced highs and lows. A dedicated and professional with over 500 club appearances at Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough, he lifted 2 league cup trophies and appeared in a UEFA Cup Final. Add to that 57 England caps and you have a pretty impressive career. Make your team aware of your experience and don’t shy away from it, you may have done exactly the same job and been a star. You may have made mistakes along the way too. Tell Them. Share your story and your people will buy into you more.
Promote collective responsibility as the key to success
Previous England teams and many of the less successful teams at the 2018 world cup have relied too heavily on one or two ‘star names’. The pressure this puts on these individuals and the possible resentment of other team members can be counter-productive, just ask Lionel Messi and the Argentina squad how it worked out for them. The current England team doesn’t really have a star player that is the focus for fans or the media, and this has worked to their advantage. Your team are just as vulnerable to this dynamic. Be aware of it. You may have a star performer, but over reliance on them and ignoring the development of others will sink you. If your best player leaves, you’re in trouble. Even if they don’t leave, the rest of your team might walk!
Know your Goals and Learn Your trade
Southgate’s perceived “lack of experience” as a manager is by design. Instead of making the obvious decision to take a club job, he managed the England under 21 team. This meant he learned about the inside workings of the FA and the team he would go onto manage. It seems that his end goal was the England senior job – a stint in club management would not have got him there. Know your goals and look at the best route to building your experience to get there. Identify key opportunities to expose you to the right people and build your credibility. It will stand you in good stead. I’ve seen way too many people think that because they’ve taken the expected route they should just walk into the top jobs. It takes way more than that to make it when the going gets tough.
Be a Role Model
Had England’s world cup been a disaster, the press would no doubt have turned on him and labelled him as boring, he had that reputation in his playing days too. But the trade-off for his decision as a player not to go to the pub with Paul Gascoigne every night is that his current team of young players would not dare step out of line. He has led by example in the truest sense. Southgate’s motivation in managing England is an intrinsic belief that Englishmen can play, and coach, football to a world-class level. He operates with an old-school respect witnessed during memorable moments like when he was seen consoling Colombia midfielder Mateus Uribe. A values-driven leader commands respect, and is a role model. If you want your people to treat each other with respect, make sure you make the time to treat your whole team this way too (not just the ones you like!).
Sense of humour
Southgate has shown himself to have a sense of humour in interviews and press conferences. It’s possible (and should always be the case) that you maintain your sense of humour when doing your job. Help your team enjoy what they’re doing. If you want success – having a team that laughs as hard as they work can be the key. Every time the England team are filmed training they are having a whale of a time – its not coincidence. Southgate encourages it. You should too.
Think Outside the box
Southgate spent time looking at how NFL and NBA teams work, and examined their preparation and tactics from a set piece perspective. It’s no coincidence that this has been a key to England’s success. Think about what organisations and teams you can learn from that are not in your field. This blog being one example!
Understand who your customers are
He understands that the press is a vital part of his perceived success – in a sense he sees them as customers. Many managers view other demanding departments and individuals as an irritating distraction. It’s time to change this mindset and view them as you would customers. Within reason… give them what they want, and your reputation will benefit.
Focus on the process and not the outcome
The England team have shown a relaxed attitude because of their level of preparedness, which has been absent from many previous squads. No detail of their preparation is left to chance. Their focus is rightly on the process and inputs it takes to produce a winning squad. When you focus on the winning, the necessary actions are missed. Imagine you were trying to lose weight and you focused all your attention on a weekly weigh in. How successful would you be? Obviously, you need to focus on what you eat and how much you move every day, and the scales will tell their own story. That’s the part you can control. It’s the same with your team. What’s within your control? Focus on these things and the results will take care of themselves.
Personal brand
Gareth Southgate understands personal brand and the role it plays in your public perception, and how it can unify a team. This year’s England squad have been given a new uniform to mirror that of their manager. The England squad are suited and booted in a three-piece-suit.
His use of personal brand is more than a fashion statement. He’s sending a clear message. His team is professional, prepared, aligned. There is a strong team brand with Southgate leading the charge, and they are in it to win it. What is your brand saying about you? How do people talk about you and your team when you’re not in the room? If you want to be seen as the best, you have to work on your brand. Understand your public perception and take visible steps to improve it. When you get your brand right, your success will soar.
Even though the team didn’t make the World Cup final, they have already exceeded many expectations. And what is clear is that this is a team set to grow and improve under Southgate’s strong leadership. And in the words of the man himself “We have to do things differently to what has already been done”.
About Sinead
Sinead is the Founder of Generation Women and is a Career and Leadership Coach. She has almost 20 years’ experience of developing leaders in global corporates. She works with organisations to help them develop leaders that have a positive impact on their people and business results. She’s the Director of Leadership Development for Lean In Ireland and a passionate advocate for equality.
Website: https://genwomen.global/
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