Adelaide Football Club’s Post

Tucked away in this week's Worth Knowing, the definitive sports industry newsletter from me, James Emmett and the team at Leaders in Sport, you'll find answers to these questions: 1) Is your bracket intact? 2) Heard the one about the NASCAR driver, Rob McElhenney’s Chief Strategy Officer, a premium vintage fashion brand CEO, one of America’s leading sneaker designers, the Premier League’s first Creative Director, and the executive producer of OJ: Made in America?  3) Have you got any macro numbers so I can sound authoritative in conversations about Saudi Arabia?  4) Are you more of an elite power-consumer or a new-age grandma?  5) Should we acknowledge the Friendship Games?  6) How many rules has this newsletter broken? Plus, the The Premier League's new FPL variant, a big week for Drew Barrand and Aquatics GB and Malaysia Airlines goes into business with Manchester United. Give it a whirl. It's free and essential. Sign up here (and then bang this link on your company intranet - go on, be the internal champion you've always wanted to be): https://lnkd.in/e99jncuX

Exploring the world of major sporting events, this Research Handbook is a must-read for understanding the dynamics of large-scale events, including challenges, impacts, and organization. It delves into the resources used, the effects on host destinations, and the value of non-monetary effects on residents. A must-read for understanding the dynamics of large-scale events. Special thanks to brilliant editors Harry Arne Solberg Rasmus K. Storm and Kamilla Swart-Arries In chapter 10, I attempt to explore the often overlooked structure and performance of organizing committees in major sporting events. In doing so, I advocate for selective decentralization, ethical democratic leadership, and a strong organizational culture, technology, and knowledge management. These insights could be the key to unlocking positive impacts for host nations. #MajorSporingEvents #SportsResearch #EventManagement #Leadership #OrganizationalDesign #Decentralization #KnowledgeManagement #TechnologyInSports

Some of the greatest sports teams in history didn’t have a sparkly leader at the top, they had something much more effective. On this #HRThursday, let's explore how the concept of a "glue guy" from sports can transform our professional teams. In "The Captain Class," SAM WALKER studied 17 "Tier One" teams worldwide (including the Pittsburgh Steelers, just sayin’). His surprising finding? The most successful teams weren't defined by management styles, resources, or even talent alone. Instead, they had a captain with a plan - a "glue guy" who quietly held the team together. One of these was defender CARLA OVERBECK, captain of the 1999 US. Women’s National Team that became World Cup champions. She led the team throughout the tournament, helping form a solid defense that only allowed three goals. Then Overbeck was the first person to step up to take a penalty kick in the final against China. In practice, she was the first one on the field and the last one to leave. When they checked into a hotel, she carried her teammates bags for them. She was the glue, puling them together. Walker's research revealed unexpected traits in these "glue" leaders: 1. Lacked superstar talent 2. Avoided the spotlight 3. Led unconventionally 4. Weren't perfect 5. Sometimes made divisive decisions 6. Were unexpected choices 7. Often overlooked as the driving force 8. Weren't always the primary leader And where is Overbeck today? Chasing fame? A social influencer? Living on an island she purchased? Not at all, Overbeck, a former NCAA champion with North Carolina, is an assistant women’s soccer coach at Duke University. She’s been there since 1992 and has helped the Blue Devils reach the NCAA tournament 20 times and the College Cup twice. Rather than pursue a life in the spotlight, she stayed committed to her sport and developed the next generation of women’s soccer leaders. Here’s the takeaway for my #HRCommunity stead of striving to be the GOAT (Greatest of All Time), aim to be the "Glue Guy." Focus on: - Helping your team crystallize their vision - Working diligently behind the scenes - Ensuring team successes are celebrated Remember, your team's success is a reflection of your quiet, consistent leadership. https://lnkd.in/ee3dp_9Z #TeamLeadership #servantleadership #hr #EffectiveManagement #ContinuousLearning #SportsLessons

Women’s football is changing the world! I’ve been to three Arsenal F.C Women’s matches at the Emirates so far this season. The atmosphere has been amazing while the football has been really entertaining (especially the 4-1 win over Chelsea!). In recent years, women’s football has transcended the boundaries of sport, becoming a beacon of inspiration, resilience, and unparalleled determination. I’m looking at you #Lionesses and those coming back from ACL injuries. As we celebrate the strides made by these incredible athletes, there’s a wealth of lessons business leaders can draw from their journey. First and foremost, women’s football epitomises the essence of perseverance. These athletes have faced and overcome challenges that many of us can only imagine. From fighting for equal pay and conditions to gaining the recognition they rightly deserve, their journey mirrors the path many businesses navigate in striving for growth and success. Leaders can learn the importance of staying the course, even when the odds seem insurmountable. Teamwork is another cornerstone of their success. This isn’t just on the field, where every pass, every goal, and every defensive action is the result of committed team members, it’s the off field work to champion the game, challenge perceptions and raise the profile. This is a powerful reminder for business environments where individual brilliance often takes the spotlight. True progress and sustainable success are team efforts, built on a foundation of mutual respect and collective goals. Moreover, women’s football showcases the power of breaking barriers. These athletes are not just playing a game; they are redefining what is possible, challenging stereotypes, and paving the way for future generations. Business leaders can draw from this courage, pushing beyond traditional limits to innovate and redefine their industries. The global embrace of women’s football also highlights the importance of inclusivity and diversity. By recognising and celebrating the unique strengths of each player, teams flourish. Similarly, businesses that champion diversity and foster an inclusive culture are more adaptable, creative, and resilient. These posts show that the journey of women’s football is a testament to what can be achieved with passion, perseverance, and teamwork. For me it should be a call for business leaders to lead with empathy, courage, and an unwavering commitment to breaking new ground. Let us draw inspiration from these remarkable athletes and strive to emulate their spirit in our organisations. My kids don’t say their going to see women’s football. They’re just off to the football and are so excited everytime. You can see by a number of these posts just what impact the women’s game, and these positive role models are having on so many. Have you got the women’s football bug? Who stands out for you? #womensfootball #leadership #leadershipexcellence The Football Association Beth Mead Mary Earps Chloé Kelly

Are we able to recreate, through technology, the high performing sport teams "locker room" moment, to support decision-making in uncertain and complex contests? 🔅YES🔅 This is what we have developed in TeamEQ. A science- backed methodology inspired by sport teams habits that combines: - smart data - active listening - a Team Health Index to test and improve key dimensions at anytime (like Performance, Well-Being, Alignment) - transparent dashboards to engage all members of the team - privacy (The President is not allowed in the locker room:-) - data-driven leadership support - aggregate data for C-Levels and to enhance predictivity To lead in complex contexts and increase our #teamintellugence, we need new, effective and reliable tools. To know how to transform your teams and accelerate cultural change, contact us https://lnkd.in/etaZZKD #teamanalytics #hranalytics

Congratulations Spain... WORTHY CHAMPIONS! ⚽ The Leadership Challenge. Lessons from our National Football Team ⚽ Its just an opinion and the link to leadership in business. We actually have a team filled with top-tier, WORLD CLASS talent, these are players who have proven their skills individually week in week out at club level. Individually they have the potential to win championships, but despite their individual brilliance, they have (once again) fallen short at a national level. Why? In my humble opinion.... It's because the leadership of the team is failing to get the best out of players. 🔍 The Challenge. It is shown in both business and sport you can have a team of exceptional members, but they can still underperform due to poor leadership. Lack of Strategy. Without a clear game plan from the leadership team, the team will struggle to work/play together cohesively, missing out on scoring opportunities and maybe defensive strategies. Low Morale. A captain who fails to inspire, or a manager who doesn’t understand player dynamics can result in demotivation of the team, causing frustration and disunity. Poor Communication. Miscommunication on the field leads to errors, wasted efforts, and ultimately, lost games. Stunted Growth. Without strong leadership fostering a culture of learning and adaptability, the team fails to innovate and improve their gameplay. 💡 The Solution. Better leadership can transform a team's potential into higher performance. Here’s how. The Vision. The manager needs to set a clear vision and tactical approach, ensuring all players understand and execute their roles. Inspirational Leadership. The manager and captain should motivate and rally the team, leading by example and maintaining high spirits even during the toughest matches. Open Communication. Both the manager and captain should facilitate open lines of communication, ensuring all players are on the same page and can voice their ideas. 🔄 The Result. When a team is led by a strategic and inspirational manager and captain, their true potential is unleashed. They play cohesively, maintain high morale, and continuously improve, ultimately turning their talent into triumph. Just like in football, in the corporate world, strong leadership is essential for transforming a great team into a winning one. The learning and development of the leadership team is as important (if not more important!) as the development of the players to ensure they achieve their true potential! 🚀 If you are a leader in business or reasonable for the training of those who are and would like to learn new skills, or maybe brush up on old ones then now is the PERFECT TIME to get in-touch. Want to find out more about how we can help YOU or YOUR leaders become more effective within your organisation? You can learn your way too. * 121 support * Group training * E-learning courses Check the link below👇 #Leadership #FootballAnalogies #LeadershipDevelopment

🏉 In Rugby League, we’ll often talk about non-negotiables… coaches love em and so will we. 🏉 So, why wouldn’t I leverage such an idea at the core of my future agency business? I’m shaping my business with three non-negotiable traits – fundamentals that will not only define us but also guide our path to success and growth. 👉 Strategic Vision: Clarity is key. From day one, every partner and team member will understand our ‘why’ – the driving force behind each project and its role in our larger strategic vision. This alignment is crucial for moving forward and delivering real value. If someone doesn’t know the “why” we have failed somewhere! 👉 Walk the Walk: Promises mean nothing without action. We will have to commit to not just talking a big game but delivering on our promises. Leading in client communications, spotting opportunities, and addressing errors promptly – we’ll be the captain on the field, showing leadership in every aspect and emerge as a vital partner, the first name on the teamsheet! 👉 Everyday Collaboration: The magic happens when we throw ideas around and iterate on what exists. At the end of the day, if you’re expecting all the ideas to come from the brain hiding under my mullet, we’re going to hit a wall eventually😂 Our thinking will be rooted in three layers of collaboration: • Between our agency and partners • Among colleagues • Between team members and leadership This approach isn’t just about working together; it’s about innovating and growing through shared ideas and efforts. We’re setting a standard for internal collaboration that fosters quick innovation and effective solutions, keeping us out ahead above everyone else in the playing field. These three pillars have guided me personally and professionally, and now, they stand as the cornerstone of my future agency. Together, they’ll steer us towards industry leadership and define our identity in the business world. In rugby if we fail on a non negotiable, we have to run “Malcolm’s”, think HR will have an issue?

Football and corporate success It’s hard to find a high-performance football player without a great work ethic. As an organizational psychologist with experience in Talent Attraction, and a sports lover, I want to share with you why I believe that high-performance sports increase the chances of corporate success. Some basic aspects in which sports can increase your corporate potential are communication, discipline, team building, empathy, passion, goal setting and strategic thinking. But I want to dig deeper into some personal experiences I believe are not always recognized when you are a football player. Football players are exceptional at building culture, as they are resilient and comprehensive of their roles in the game. This, translated into the business talk, means they will try to understand their position and impact in the strategy, living the values of the company and influencing the rest of their peers. They are used to cycles, and they understand short, medium and long-term processes to get the desired result. When setting clear goals, they will make sure to achieve them. Training isn’t the same as playing. Football players know how to compete and they recognize when their opponents are stronger than them, but this only means they know how to overcome their weaknesses. Mentally, they are used to being challenged and they know how to transform that challenge into motivation, always seeking to be the best player on the field. Pressure isn’t unknown for those who have been in sports. Knowing all eyes are on them will not break them, but will make the adrenaline rush much stronger and even become a strength. All three sides of the ball (offense, defense and special teams) share a common characteristic which is problem-solving. No matter how much you have prepared, your opponent is never predictable. Therefore, football players are always ready to change the play in the last second and sometimes even when already playing. They will never be threatened by uncertainty. Finally, there is no better place to get feedback than in the field or the video room. Players are used to getting strong, direct and honest feedback from coaches, overviewing their mistakes and planning on how to correct them before their next match. You will very rarely find a player who isn’t prepared to learn from their last reps and as it is said, has the “next play” mentality. Football builds your character. There is no single player who can say they haven’t been impacted in their personal life after being part of a team. All these skills and experiences help athletes develop, and become great teammates and leaders, when in a business environment. Photo: Dario Avila Melendrez Player: Jonathan Salvador Castañeda Cárdenas

I recently attended the US Open with my tennis-crazed wife for the first time. In several matches, we watched sessions in which the players were very unevenly ranked. When that happened, the announcers sometimes observed that the over-matched players just “hoped to make a good showing.” In other words, they hoped to perform well enough to avoid being viewed as unworthy of being in the tournament. Winning was not a real consideration. As I heard this commentary, I reflected on behavior that I often see in corporate board rooms--Directors whose performance does not reflect an intent to make a real impact, but instead suggests a desire to do well enough to retain their board seat, ruffle no feathers and move along. This is certainly not universally the case. As with tennis champions, or champions in any endeavor, there are many directors whose level of engagement and initiative stands out. One that comes immediately to mind is Roger Penske, who served on the board of a company that I represented for many years. His passion for excellence, knowledge of what the company needed to succeed and consistent engagement were readily apparent. Perhaps it was the competitive instincts honed during his racing career, or maybe just an overall commitment to excellence but, whatever it was, his outsized contributions were real difference makers at crucial moments in the company’s journey. One can certainly understand the mindset of the 149th player in the world hoping just not to lay an egg in front of the entire tennis world.  But, what is it that causes otherwise successful and confident directors to settle for "making a good showing?" In my experience, a number of factors can be at work: -Culture. Boards are famously devoted to collegiality. Some boards place more value on pleasant interaction than performance and contribution. Where this is the case, few directors will risk being voted off the island. -Lack of Permission. Directors should feel that board leadership and management want them to offer their candid observations, even when critical. Otherwise, only an unusually intrepid director will speak up. -Lack of Knowledge of the Business. With the current emphasis on diversity and the need to staff specific functions like the audit committee or cyber oversight, it is less common these days for directors to be chosen for their knowledge of the industry. This lack of industry experience understandably leads to reticence to question management's assertions and plans. -A Dominant CEO or Chair. Closely related to the first two items above, an overly-dominant voice in the boardroom can drown out all others. The leaders occupying these positions can either be part of the problem or a key part of the solution. -Lack of Training in Boardroom Skills.  Directors who receive some training in the organizational dynamics of the boardroom can be better equipped to succeed and not just ride along. Have you had similar experiences?

Day 2 - Session 1 - Sport Industry Series - Abu Dhabi 🇦🇪 at NYU Stern School of Business National Basketball Association (NBA) TEAM PRESIDENTS TAKE TO THE STAGE - MY SPORTS JOURNEY Rich Gotham Boston Celtics and Kevin Demoff PRESIDENT, TEAM & MEDIA OPERATIONS, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT Denver Nuggets - NBA Basketball Team PRESIDENT, Los Angeles Rams Day 2 featured an engaging discussion with the Presidents of two leading NBA teams, highlighting several key insights: - Personal Leadership Journeys: They shared their experiences navigating the complexities of professional sports, emphasizing the importance of authenticity, purpose and vision. “People have to allow you to lead, they have to trust that you have their best interests as well as that of the company. Instilling a sense of purpose (something bigger than yourself) is critical” - Rich Gotham. Building Successful Teams: Strategies included fostering collaboration and trust among players and staff, along with a focus on clear communication to create a strong, winning culture. “Bringing people in from other industries outside of sports has been a successful strategy for us” - Kevin Demoff Kevin’s advice on building a culture that allows your people to grow and find their own pathway to success being really important. - Innovation for Long-term Success: They discussed the need for continual adaptation and embracing new technologies to stay competitive in the evolving landscape of the NBA. - Resilience and Adaptability: Both leaders stressed the importance of these traits in high-pressure situations, underscoring that effective leaders must remain flexible to navigate challenges and seize opportunities. “When you celebrate that title at the top there is nothing more inspiring but, then you have to contend with the expectations that follow that title and those can be some of the hardest lessons” - Kevin Demoff “Resilience is what keeps you going. Whether you are defending a championship or hunting for a new one. We get to write a new chapter each season as there is always something new we strive to achieve. We remind ourselves often that we need to guard against complacency. - Rich Gotham In closing, Rich’s final comment on being passionate and caring (about the team, the fans and the impact you make) is way more important than winning - really resonated with me! #sportindustryforum Sally Corander Christopher Corander Ibrahim Sagna Michele P.