4-2-2: Win together, lose together

Hi!

We’re officially in Q2 and if, the weather is anything to go by, we’re off to a great start. How are your plans for the new quarter going?

If things are looking a bit rocky, don’t panic. You can’t always predict the outcome but you can always make sure you’re prepared. These tips will help.

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Preparation Over Prediction

In football, we never knew exactly how a game would unfold. The weather, the crowd, the opposition. So many unpredictable factors but what we could control was our preparation. The best players didn’t waste time trying to guess what would happen. They focused on being ready for anything.

Business is no different. You can’t predict every challenge, but you can always prepare for how you’ll respond. World-class performers spend more time preparing than predicting. That’s what keeps them ahead.

Raise Your Standards, Then Stick to Them

When you train and compete at the highest level, you quickly realise the best athletes hold themselves to higher standards than anyone else could impose. They don’t wait for motivation or rely on external validation. They show up and give their best because that’s who they are.

In business, if you want to perform at a world-class level, raise your standards and live by them, even when no one is watching. That’s what separates the elite from the average.

Control the Controllables

A phrase we used constantly in football was: “Control the controllables.” You can’t control the referee, the crowd, or your opponent’s tactics. However, you can control your effort, your mindset, and your response to setbacks.

In business, it’s easy to get distracted by things outside your control. The market shifts, competitor moves, economic trends. However, the most successful people focus relentlessly on what they can control. That mindset builds resilience and keeps progress moving forward, no matter the circumstances.

Don’t Confuse Busy with Productive

Being busy and being productive are not the same thing. During my playing career, there were training sessions that looked intense but weren’t actually improving performance. The best coaches knew the difference. They focused on smart, targeted effort.

In business, filling your day with meetings and emails can feel like work but is it moving the needle? World-class performers ask themselves: “Is this action bringing me closer to my goal?” If the answer is no, it’s just noise.

Share the Credit, Shoulder the Responsibility

The best teams I played in had a simple rule: win together, lose together. When things went well, everyone shared the credit. When things didn’t go to plan, no one pointed fingers. This creates a culture of unity and shared ownership.

In business, when teams adopt this mindset, they become more cohesive and far more resilient. Celebrate as one. Take responsibility as one.

Create a Culture of Communication

On the pitch, silence leads to mistakes. The best teams are constantly communicating, organising, encouraging, warning & directing.

In business, it’s exactly the same. Open, honest, and frequent communication prevents misunderstandings, resolves conflict quickly, and ensures everyone is aligned. If your team isn't talking, it's not performing to its full potential.

Encourage Independent Thinking

Great leaders don’t create followers. They create other leaders. In football, the best managers encouraged us to make decisions on the pitch instead of waiting for instructions.

In business, encouraging your team to think critically and take initiative empowers them to solve problems faster and grow in confidence. Give them the tools, step back, and let them lead.

Feedback Is a Two-Way Street

Top-level football managers didn’t just talk, they listened. They asked for feedback, and were willing to change if something wasn’t working.

In business, the best leaders do the same. They create environments where feedback flows both ways. Not only does this improve trust and morale but it also ensures the leader is growing alongside the team. As a leader, if you're not listening, you're only doing half of the job.

Ultimately, you need to remember you’re not alone. You have the power to bring your team together and achieve success.

I hope you get time for a kick about this week to enjoy the sun. Have a great weekend and keep getting after it.

Paul