Exchanging ideas to create the well-being advantage

It was great to see Fabio Capello taking charge of the England team with a positive but thoughtful management style this week. I was impressed with how he ‘grounded’ the players - his message to them was not to impose unrealistic expectations on themselves, he urged them to enjoy the game and play like they do week in and week out with their clubs. The motto was just ‘be yourself’, not a media-created superstar with all ‘expectational’ baggage which comes with that. He was saying “If you do that, I’ll show you the way to be successful”.

Capello is an example of another thoughtful European football manager, like Arsene Wenger and Sven Goran Erikson, who more often than not projects a calm manner which exudes self confidence. Football is in an industry characterised by multiple demands, sky-high stress levels and an over-emphasis on the bottom-line. Not so different from your average UK company really. 

Many people in today’s workplace want to know what is expected of them, to feel that their senior managers will provide them with the support they require and have confidence in their abilities. They want to know the direction of travel. Employees need things to be less frenetic; they want less stress and at least a modicum of security and reassurance. But they also want to feel challenged because, like the England players, employees fundamentally want to find their best performance.

The English football team is off to a successful but slow start, as it begins to find its new identity with a different manager - and by all accounts a different and more supportive culture. Perhaps one that is not unrealistically ‘driving’ for success but gradually moving toward it - supporting and protecting their young and talented people along the way.  It would be nice to see more companies with a similar attitude toward their employees and a few more Capellos on the shop floor!!