If Gareth Southgate Ran a Business

Probably his greatest achievement, was the strong team culture he created. When he took over England the squad was a fractured mess, but Southgate immediately set to work on the culture and within a seemingly short space of time, he turned it into a unified group with an emphasis trust and collaboration, creating an environment where squad members felt valued and motivated.

He also demonstrated an ability to blend experience with young talent to keep the team dynamic and forward-thinking, just like we, as business owners, will often need a mix of experienced team members and new starters with fresh ideas and a different approach in order to stay competitive.

Southgate was/is a great communicator, creating and maintaining open and transparent lines of communication with all of the key stakeholders – players, clubs, managers and the media – and within the squad, making sure that everyone knew their role and their individual responsibilities. This sort of clarity is vital in a business. Our team members need to know exactly what’s expected of them so that they can take ownership. Clarity prevents misunderstandings and mistakes, and ensures that everyone in the business is aligned with the business goals.

There is a ‘but’ though…

Southgate’s reign was not without its challenges. Despite creating a cohesive, supportive and motivated team, he struggled to get them to deliver against the big teams on the pitch. In a business context this might look like having excellent internal processes and a great team spirit but failing to achieve significant market share or land the big deals.

It highlights the importance of not just building a strong team, but also developing the strategies and having the drive to deliver that will deliver ultimate success.

Another weakness was his conservative approach to key moments – failing to act positively – going for the win rather than making sure we didn’t lose. In business, this would look like playing it safe when there’s a great opportunity and potentially missing out on a game-changing deal. While cautious decision-making can sometimes protect your business, it can also prevent it from achieving its full potential.

Look at it like this – if Gareth Southgate ran a business, his strengths in team building and communication would create a positive and motivated workforce. But his aversion to risk and conservative strategies are a reminder to us all that balancing team spirit with bold, decisive action is essential for ultimate success.

Would you agree?