Like most British people, you probably spend your weekends glued to the TV watching your favourite football team. But as I sit back and enjoy football, I can’t help thinking that there’s actually quite a lot of similarities between a football team and running a business. So next time you’re cheering on your team, see if you can notice one of the following lessons that can help you run your business.

Vision will guide you to success

There’s one main goal for professional footballers – for their team to be top of the league. To be victorious, football teams must have a vision which includes a game plan to take the team to the top. Like a football team, a business must have a vision that will put them on the road to success. This includes having a business plan, a marketing strategy, and the best team members to implement the goals, plans and strategies that you have created for your business.

Matt Engel, CEO of Attend.com, stated that “With football it’s coaches and captains. In the business world it’s a CEO on the management team who picks all those extraordinary individuals and pulls them together into a team [with] a common goals. And then at that point the people have to execute.”

You need someone to lead your team onto the field

When you think about the top football teams, it’s noticeable that there’s a common thread among them – they have leadership. Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Christiano Ronaldo are not only excellent players, but they’re also effective leaders who can lead their teams across the field through talent and passion.

Business also need effective leaders to execute, organise and inspire their team for the best interest of the business. They also have to adapt to changes and have the confidence in their skills along with the talent of other team members, to lead the team to victory.

Resiliency

Both business teams and football teams have to be resilient. They’re both going to have setbacks, but instead of staying on the ground, they must pick themselves back up and get ready for the next play. Vince Lombardi, an American football player, once said “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.”

Strong work ethic and dedication

Football players must train throughout the year, not just during the football season, even if they’re sick or injured. Coaches have to prepare for opponents weeks in advance by watching hours of filming. Having that type of dedication, willpower and passion is how the players and coaches reach such a high level of success.

Business owners need to have that strong work ethic to deliver their product or service in the best way, as well as providing excellent customer service and the ability to beat the competition. It isn’t luck. It’s the determination and passion that drives you to work hard with your business. Just like football, you won’t be able to stand toe-to-toe with the competition.

Having a coach

This doesn’t just apply to footballers; every top athlete in the world has a sports coach by their side to make them excel in their talent and passion. Successful business owners can’t always do it alone – they need a business coach to help them make the best out of their capabilities and push them to their limits. For both footballers and business owners, it’s vital to have a coach to take them from good to excellent.

If you’d like to know how I can help you successfully run your business, contact me for a complimentary coaching session.