Partly due to the recent World Cup, soccer is now becoming more and more popular in the United States. Many Americans have become instant fans as team USA advanced out of the so-called “group of death” ahead of Portugal and Ghana. However, while soccer provides quality entertainment, it can also offer business insight. Read below to learn of 3 soccer strategies that can be applied to your business.
- Have an Experienced LeaderIn soccer, managers are extremely important to the success of their teams. Part of a soccer manager’s jobs is to decide on a formation to play. The formation of a soccer team dictates the way the team plays. A consistent formation in which all players know their roles is an aspect of any championship team. This can be seen in Spain’s and Germany’s recent World Cup triumphs. Both these teams maintained a consistent formation throughout the whole tournament. Whether expansive or defensive, teams should set a formation that suits their players, their goals, and gives them an upper-hand on the competition. To set this formation, an experienced manager is always required.The importance of formation can be translated to the business world. Just like the manager of a championship team sets a formation, business executives should set a consistent business strategy. To set this business strategy, business leaders must have detailed knowledge of the “players” in their company. Within this strategy, employees should know their role in the team as well as the system and management style of the whole business. This knowledge allows employees to conduct their work with the overall goal of the business in mind. In addition, just like soccer managers, business executives should have knowledge of their competition. Knowing the competition can determine how to set a business strategy that differentiates the company from competitors.
- Keep Your Head UpThe top players always know what’s happening around them. Soccer is a very fast-paced game that requires players to make split-second decisions. These decisions can only be made if players know where their teammates and opposing players are on the field. Top players must keep their heads up, whether they’re dribbling or just running, in order to see what is going on around them. Keeping your head up has another translation in soccer. If you make a mistake, such as missing a penalty kick or scoring an own goal, you have to move on in the game and not let it drag you down for the rest of the 90 minutes.Just like soccer players, businesses and their employees should always know what’s going on around them. Being aware of what is occurring in your “field” will help you to identify trends in the industry. After identifying trends in the industry, your company can then adjust its product or business strategy accordingly. In addition, just like in soccer, business professionals should not give up after failure. Instead of contemplating what you could have or should have done, learn from your mistake, and move on.
- Maintain Good Team MoraleAnother crucial aspect to any championship winning team is attitude. All World Cup winning teams consist of players who are dedicated to each other and their goal. France, as seen in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, was destroyed by poor team morale and extreme egos and exited the tournament without winning a game. Spain, on the other hand, won the 2010 World Cup by maintaining good team morale even after losing their first game to Switzerland. This feat was accomplished by a group of players that had a remarkably good work ethic and attitude towards the game.In the business world, maintaining good team morale is very important. To be successful, all employees must work efficiently together in a positive environment. The sales team doesn’t have anything to sell without the developers. The developers don’t have anything to build without the CEO’s idea. By trusting and relying on each other, companies can successfully build a positive environment. Everyone wants to be part of a “winning team” and the one thing all winning teams have in common is good morale.
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