The Insurer’s Post

England has made it to the Euro finals. Even a non-football fan like me is taking notice. ⚽️ I can count on my fingers the number of football games I’ve ever watched. Yet, I vividly remember Gareth Southgate missing that crucial penalty in the Euro 1996 semi-final against Germany. (For those of you who, like me, are not big followers of the sport: England and Germany had each scored 5 out of 5 penalties, and the hopes of a nation rested on sudden death. Southgate took a long run-up, missed… and became an easy scapegoat.) What an incredible story of resilience to see Gareth Southgate leading a successful team as manager. More than that, it’s a tale of learning from failure. As manager, he has focused on the team's approach to penalties. He has partnered with psychologists, worked on players’ breathing techniques, and taught them to ignore the goalkeeper and focus instead on their well-practised routine. Every penalty taker is met by a buddy as they walk back to the halfway line. Most importantly, Southgate has fostered an environment of psychological safety, ensuring that players are well-prepared and supported, even if they miss. (Which is sadly all the more crucial in the face of recent racist abuse.) Southgate has taken the lowest moment of his career and used it to his advantage. An inspirational journey of redemption, from the heartbreak of 1996 to the strategic, empathetic leadership of today. A powerful reminder that resilience, proper preparation, and a supportive environment are key to achieving success. Wishing the best of luck to Gareth Southgate and the England team in the final! ***** 👋🏻 I’m Anna - a speaker, coach, and facilitator specialising in modern workplace productivity. Want to know more about building psychological safety in your team, and other talks and workshops that I offer? 📩 PM me OR 📞 Book a call here: https://lnkd.in/eFtei2im #Leadership #PsychologicalSafety #Resilience #Teamwork #Euro2024 #Penalties #GarethSouthgate #England

Why can’t the best England team in years win a final? On paper, this is indeed the most exciting England team in a generation. We were even made favourite for the Euros by the bookies, but unfortunately Southgate is tactically inept ….That is the simple truth. Once again, his very predictable starting 11 tactical choices failed him. We replicated the improved semi-final play, we pressed, but Jude Bellingham looked isolated for extended periods. An unfit Harry Kane at centre-forward was slow and ineffectual AGAIN. The Spain manager noted all of this, he also recognised we had another player who was not match-fit at left back with Luke Shaw. We ‘luckily’ won our way to the final because of the ‘reluctant’ use of substitutes by the manager which provided the necessary balance and attacking edge. Yet once again, ONLY in the final 20 minutes, when Ollie Watkins and Cole palmer came on did England find a dangerous attacking formation. They should have started the game, anyone that understands football knew this, that is everyone apart from Southgate … unlike his Spain counterpart. Instead, England have had to rely on fleeting moments of inspiration from its superstars, but Spain had a system and a highly competent manager to make effective use of such. So another lost final. But I truly believe the best for England is yet to come 🙏🏼, unfortunately that will never happen with Southgate as manager. …..Adiós Gareth. #success #winners #tactics #inspiration #innovation #management

Insight - Euro 2024 - For England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 it should be all about each player from the Squad and the management team. We back the team and the managers selection. We need to move away from what our thoughts and processes are (there’s a time after the final for that). Rival fans are at each other to why their man should be starting or how their man won it for England. There is the age old and very boring rendition of Harry Kane and his place in the team. Gareth must know what he’s doing to reach a second consecutive Euro final - never ever happened for us and now it has we are getting the ‘he’s lucky.’ At this level, you have to be elite to get two consecutive finals, you have to be elite to going behind and scoring to come back, you have to be elite to make changes after a defence has been run around to bring on a direct forward running into channels. This isn’t luck, it’s Southgate. What was clear was the resilience and team spirit when Watkins scored because it showed me they all want it together and that’s what matters most. #mindset #apply #perform

Gareth Southgate Resigns as England Manager In the wake of England's heart-wrenching 2-1 defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final, Gareth Southgate has stepped down as the national team's manager. Southgate, who served as manager for eight years, cited the need for "a new chapter" in his illustrious career. His tenure has seen England achieve remarkable highs, including a World Cup semi-final in 2018 and a Euro 2020 final. Despite the recent loss, Southgate's leadership brought renewed hope and respectability to English football. Reflecting on his time as manager, Southgate described playing for and managing England as "the honour of my life." His commitment and dedication have been evident throughout his tenure, having navigated the team through four major tournaments. His departure marks the end of an era, but it also heralds the beginning of a new phase for England. FA Chief Executive Mark Bullingham has already stated that the process of appointing a new manager is underway, with an interim coach likely to take charge during the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches. As Southgate steps aside, the football community is left to ponder his legacy. He undoubtedly laid a strong foundation for future success and fostered an environment where players could thrive. His departure signals an opportunity for fresh leadership to build on these foundations and take the England team to new heights. While speculation about his successor is rife, one thing is certain: Southgate's influence will be deeply missed. #GarethSouthgate #EnglandManager #Euro2024

The international break is over and the Premier League returns with a selection of tasty tussles culminating in Tottenham v Arsenal on Sunday. We were mildly more interested in the two England games in the Nations League, due to the fact there’s a new bald-headed boss in town in the shape of Lee Carsley. And although the Three Lions racked up two impressive wins under the interim manager, it still doesn’t get the blood pumping like a Premier League weekend. The Bookie Basher also took a breather while the top flight took a step back, but he’s back from Benidorm and Ibiza, where we shudder to think what shenanigans he got up to. Anyway, those tales of debauchery are for another day - let’s get down to business with some free betting tips for your perusal… Southampton v Manchester United I’ve been on a stag do to Benidorm folks and before that had a week in Ibiza so I’m mega fragile. Indeed Alicante Airport Burger King after a four-day bender will absolutely destroy your conviction in a loving God. But we move on, and there is much to like here in lumping both teams to score. Like many, I am not sold on this current Red Devils team but Southampton have not beaten Manchester United at home since 2003, a simpler time when Avril Lavigne was telling us all it’s ‘Complicated‘. Nothing complicated about the pick here. BTTS reeks of win. Bosh. Suggested Bet: Both teams to score at 13/20 (Ladbrokes). There's more of this kind of magic in the full preview... https://lnkd.in/eMEgZdU4 #tips #bettingtips #freetips #premierleaguetips #tottenhamtips

At Least… ... England made it to the final. ... it didn’t go to penalties. ... England will have another chance in two years at the World Cup (unfortunately, my team, Italy, cannot say the same). ... the team is young and will have many more opportunities. ... the team played with heart and gave it their all. .. this is likely to be Gareth Southgate’s last game, and a new manager might be less cautious (though I believe Southgate has done a brilliant job). ... we should not (fingers crossed) see the same racism we witnessed after England’s last final defeat. ... you got to celebrate a goal in the final. ... we have the Premier League to look forward to next month. As Brené Brown says in her brilliant RSA short (see comments), “Rarely, if ever, does an empathic response begin with, ‘At least…’” Saying "at least" often minimises the significance of someone's hurt or concerns, making them feel undervalued or dismissed. It can also come across as insincere or condescending, undermining trust and communication. As an Italy fan, there is very little I can say other than I feel with you. I truly understand the impact of losing a final, and I sympathise with every English fan this morning. I am gutted for you. The feeling will subside, but right now, I totally get that you are hurting. However I do hope that in the future, if you ever find yourself saying ‘at least...,’ that you remember to check yourself and apologise for minimising someone’s feelings. Just let them know you are there for them right now. Often, that’s all they need to hear. #Empathy #Sympathy #AtLeast #InclusiveLeadership

Our president, Marc Guerrero, met yesterday with one of the most experienced football #executives at the top of European football, the new appointed Manchester United's CEO, Omar Berrada. There is an undeniable fascination with professional #football clubs the world over. But whilst the star players, head coaches and owners typically dominate the headlines, one of the most important figures in any club is undoubtedly its #CEO. What made CEOs successful in the past is no longer enough. The #context in which they operate has become fundamentally more #complex and traditional approaches to leadership are now insufficient. In the past, sporting success led to business success. That relationship is being reversed. In this #changing and increasingly stressful #environment, CEOs must bring to bear a unique blend of skills, experiences, and perspectives, as well as a knowledge of how to leverage the support of the board of directors, to help them run their football club.

⚽️ Josep Guardiola and the Challenge of Rebuilding Manchester City 🔵⚽ Manchester City is facing a challenging period after three consecutive losses and without a key player like Rodri anchoring the midfield. Yet, if there’s one coach known for turning setbacks into strengths, it’s Pep Guardiola. Guardiola’s capacity to adapt, rethink his strategies, and keep his team motivated—even in tough times—will be crucial as he seeks to bring City back on track. With his return to Manchester, he faces added pressure and the anticipation of a direct face-off with Rúben Amorim, who’s coming off a 4-1 victory and is proving himself a rising competitor in European football. As Guardiola enters what may be his final season with City, this is a defining moment to leave the club performing at its highest level. True leadership isn’t just about maintaining success; it’s about guiding a team through adversity, inspiring belief, and building a lasting legacy of resilience and excellence that will carry on long after he’s gone. Will Guardiola rise to the challenge and secure his place as one of the greatest leaders in football history? ⭐️

The Art of Negotiation 😏 To follow up my Friday post 'Man-up son', I know all of you will be mightily pleased to know that the Jones household was able to make the Cardiff City game for Kick Off at 12.30 to watch the Bluebirds put 5 goals past Wayne Rooney's Plymouth Argyle. Not only did Aberaeron's very own Pep Guardiola, Wyn Williams, mastermind a tactical masterclass in ensuring that Radyr Rangers U12 won 5-1, he also displayed negotiation skills not seen since The Cold War. This is what he did; 1. Brought-forward the kick-off of the game prior to our U12 game by 15 mins. This required liaison between both teams, coaches, players and parents. 2. Brought-forward our kick-off by 30mins with 60 seconds half-time break. This required liaison between both teams, coaches, players and parents. 3. Delegated the dismantling of the temporary goals to other mugs, sorry volunteers/dads. This arduous task requires a degree in Astrophysics Engineering and the patience of a saint. By doing the above it ensured him and I (and our knackered sons) were able to shoot off to CCFC. It is no mean feat to rearrange 2 football games at short notice and he was only able to do this, and call in favours, since he is a nice person. One of my previous posts; 'It's not Rocket Science... innit', showed how being nice gets you further along in life... All hail Aberaeron's very own Pep Guardiola 🙌