As a supporter of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club I’m a bit loath to recognize any positive qualities about our arch North London rivals, Arsenal, but credit where credit is due; Arsenal’s longtime manager, Arsène Wenger, deserves his just due. Besides the titles and trophies (and the unmatched and almost unfathomable 38 – 0 "Invincible" season of 2003/04), the average stint for a Premiere League manager is just about two years, so the fact that Wenger has been at the helm since 1996 is nothing short of extraordinary. Called "Le Professeur" by the British media because of his studious demeanor, Wenger is a deep thinker and compelling character, and his recent interview with NBC Sports is virtual master class on effective global leadership! And not just sports leadership—any leadership!Whether or not you care about Arsenal or Premiere League Football, if you are reading this blog, you must have some interest in cultural fluency, effective management and global leadership. Here is some wisdom from a person who’s led the same organization for over 20 years and managed 209 players from well over 20 nations. The insights are many, but after multiple viewings, it seems Wenger has an 8-point system for success in football and life.
- Optimism – What’s allowed Wenger to thrive for so long in a brutally competitive field and under the constant glare of the British Media? Being an optimist and maintaining, “A naïve belief in the essential goodness of human beings.”
- Vision – The ability to see and communicate individual and team objectives, and getting players to believe in that vision.
- Humility – Remembering that it’s a team game and any outcome is the whole of its many individual parts. Take the victories in stride and using failure as an effective tool for growth and learning.
- Stopping Losses – Good managers must stop the hemorrhaging first—in Wenger’s case that means losses. “If you lose 1, it’s more likely you will lose 2, and if you lose 2, it’s even more likely you will lose 3, and then you have a disaster.” Good managers stop the losses by finding 2 or 3 essential problems and correcting them.
- Development of Talent – Anybody with deep enough pockets can purchase superstars and win, but great managers enjoy the challenges of developing talent and making people better.
- Moments of Happiness – “Every loss is like a scar on my heart,” says Wenger, and managers will experience a great many scars. Endure the hardships and losses by finding small moments of happiness and working to appreciate them.
- Live up to Your Core Values – Wenger had many opportunities to chase HUGE money and manage the most glamorous clubs, but values like loyalty, fidelity, making a lasting impact and long-term meaningful relationships mean more to him than money and glory.
- Tenacity – According to Wenger, “Tenacity is the most underrated quality in life.” If a person is willing to maintain focus and motivation, to continue to work hard, especially through periods of adversity, success in life cannot elude them.
Now in his twenty-first season at Arsenal, and with his team in form and once again competing for the league title, Wenger knows a thing or two about tenacity and what it means to lead at the highest level. Sound advice no matter what field you play on.
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