This month, football will say goodbye to one of its great managers: Sir Alex Ferguson. There’s no doubt that he will be a huge loss to Manchester United and, even as a Liverpool fan myself, I can really appreciate his leadership skills. In fact, former Birmingham and Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish has said that he is ‘one of the best leaders of men you will ever see’. Fergie managed to transform Manchester United from a team that hadn’t won a title for 26 years, to one of the biggest clubs in the world. So why has he been so successful, and should you be looking for similar traits in your senior figures?
Right from the beginning, Fergie has always recognised the importance of really getting to know the club. When he first came to Manchester United, he made a strong effort to understand the culture and values by learning from those around him, whether they were players, other managers or fans. He kept everyone involved in decision making and treated the team like his ‘family’. This did mean disciplining at times, but ultimately, everyone knew where they stood and he gained respect. Having a clear communication structure in place such as this is just as important in an organisation as it is for a football club, and in the early stages it can make it much easier for your team to adjust to a new manager’s fresh ideas, like it did for Man U.
Just as the players were able to adapt to Fergie’s way of thinking, he too has managed to alter his management style to keep in line with external changes. In any business, it’s important to be able to respond to outside factors, and a failure to do so can result in rival firms reaching the top of the table and you being relegated.
On top of this, Fergie has always been able to think to the future rather than focusing on what didn’t quite go to plan. Even after victories, he would look to the next one with a clear aim of maintaining success. The same should be seen of senior figures in a business. Yes, mistakes will inevitably happen, but a long term vision is needed to keep ahead of the competition.
The right work ethic is also fundamental for the leader of a company, and Fergie’s couldn’t be faulted. He lived and breathed football – as I’m sure he will continue to do so – and he’s embedded this same attitude into the club. Even if a player was out of the team, he would push them to force their way back in and always challenged everyone to achieve more. The result was that he was able to keep everyone engaged, and in a business this is just as important to maintain a highly motivated workforce.
During his reign at Old Trafford, Fergie has won 38 trophies and is the most successful manager in the history of the British game. If your senior figures possess the same traits then they too can lead the team to success. So, no matter what your view of football, when it comes to hiring for a management position, think of Ferugson’s key traits. Yes, qualifications and experience are important, but without the right skills and attitude, an individual may not be the best talent for your team.
