Leadership Lessons From... a Sports Executive

The CEO of the London Football Association shares his experiences of leadership at the top of the world of soccer.

Key Takeaways: leadership lessons from the world of sports

• Decision making and people are the twin pillars of leadership. You "live and die" on the decisions you make and the people you surround yourself with.
• A clear strategy is the key to good decisions. Define your problems to inform your solutions and shape your strategy.
• Inclusion is critical. Organizations should be representative of their stakeholders and be open to adapting their culture.
• Leadership is a choice. It's not for everyone. The essence of leadership is the choice to accept more responsibility. It can be challenging at times, but also extremely rewarding.

Let's Act: lead like a sports executive

Paul says that the best strategies are based on simple concepts – but simplicity is hard to achieve.

So make this commitment today:

• Identify ways you could simplify your core strategy.

Are you focusing on too many different outcomes? Is your roadmap clear? Take the time to think it through and come up with a list of suggestions for simplifying your strategy.

If people don't understand the strategy, you won't hit your goals. A clear, simple strategy improves engagement and buy-in.

Explore these Mindtools resources on strategy and strategic thinking to get you started:

• Article: What Is Strategy?
• Article: Developing Your Strategy
• Article: Mission Statements and Vision Statements
• Article: Management by Objectives (MBO)