A high-performing sports team is a fascinating microcosm of a brilliant and successful organisation. Like great organisations, great sports teams thrive on strategy, teamwork, and strong leadership. What can business leaders learn from leading on the pitch? Reuben Fletcher-Louis shares his secrets.
I’ve been lucky enough to play against Olympians, be coached by international coaches, and even coach a couple of international players. All of these people are experts at what they do, which brings me to my first secret of high performance…
To be a leader in the future means being led in the past.
Where does the most successful strategy, culture, and organisation often come from? Someone before us who used them, curated them, and passed them down. If you’re a football fan, you’ll surely know the impact that Hall of Famer coach Pep Guardiola has had on the sport. Even my 9-year-old cousin is coached to play Guardiola’s football.
There’s no need to reinvent the wheel when someone before invented a brilliant one. It’s not about cutting corners — it’s about getting ahead faster.
So, my first secret… if you aim to perform at the highest level and get to that point faster — find a way of doing things that someone you trust has done; learn from it and adapt it to your situation and style.
So, what about once you’ve found your way of doing things?
Make it the team’s identity and make your people believe in it.
I’ve learned that the most successful teams don’t just show up and play; they approach every match with a consistent style, a set of rituals, and an unwavering commitment to their philosophy. One thing that sets the best coaches apart — whether on the pitch or in the boardroom — is their ability to create a clear sense of identity for a team.
It’s more than just uniforms and logos (although these help). It’s about having shared values and standards that everyone believes in. As a coach, I did my best to instil this from day one. In my first session, I gave the team three non-negotiables, which would be built upon and refined as the season progressed. These non-negotiables were a part of our wider club philosophy but adapted to fit us as a squad. They formed the foundations of our team and the hockey we played.
My second secret… be flexible and open to changing the little things as you grow as a team. Flexibility on top of strong foundations forms trust in the mission and values.
“You don’t build a house without foundations. You don’t build a team without trust.”
— Joe Torre
If all this goes to plan, and you have a brilliant system, philosophy, and identity, it might be time to think about the team at a personal level…
Consider the people, not just the results; the people drive the results.
When I first started coaching, it was very easy to select the best 16 players for the match, no matter what. In a 22-game season, each win and each three points are as valuable as the next. Prioritising the first game on the fixture list might be detrimental to the last two games on the list. Taking each game as it comes isn’t the worst approach but, when it stops working, it hugely slows things down.
To go faster means being a leader of the future, not just the now. Consider what will slow you down and prevent it. In hockey, this means rotating tired players, nurturing inexperienced players, listening to your team’s moans and worries, and keeping everyone aligned to the season-long goals.
The third secret is to consider the people at the smallest level. Mention them in a team talk, give them a high five before the game, chat and listen to what’s affecting them. This will accelerate growth and drive the team’s results.
So, what happens when you achieve great results and achieve them fast? It feels fantastic. Momentum is on our side, and it’s tempting to ride the wave without looking back. But here’s the danger: success can blind us to areas that still need work.
Did we get a lucky umpiring decision? Do we have a dream client who always seems happy no matter what?
In business, reflecting after a successful project might reveal risks that were avoided or opportunities that were missed — these are the lessons that prepare you better for the next challenge.
One bonus secret… after every win, slow down. Reflect on the process and focus on continuous improvement. Reflecting slowly results in faster performance.