The Importance of Believing

As a Manchester United fan I’m watching with particular interest how replacing an experienced and successful coach with somebody untried like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will play out. It’s equally interesting with my coach’s hat on.

The obvious question is, why get rid of the man who has won more trophies than any other manager currently still working, for a man who’s managerial experience could at best be described as “slight”?

Here’s why: it’s all about belief and resilience.

Jose has a style that is his. He won’t compromise for anything or anyone. Channelled positively, belief in his abilities and methods has delivered results in the past. But without some “give and take” this system slowly backs itself into a proverbial corner. It can start to eat away at the self-belief and commitment of the team.

Back, for a moment to the work we do at the Bid Coach. The Mourinho style is like not listening to the fundamental needs of your client or key stakeholders and persisting with proposals that don’t meet their needs. Pressing on with the belief that you are always right. Failure follows failure and the client and stakeholders are blamed for not getting what the proposition is.

The other issue with the Mourinho style was the public and continued criticism of the team. Did players live down to the expectations of the manager – so fuelling a downward spiral?

Buying Success?
Having deep financial pockets that can acquire the services of some of the best talent in the world doesn’t guarantee success (in football or business). Players need to understand what’s expected of them and also need to go onto the pitch and demonstrate their talents to the benefit of the overall team. 

In sport, business and life, the margins between success and failure can be slight. When people don’t understand what’s expected of them they are much less likely to put in that extra 10% of effort to do what is required.

Under Jose Mourinho the atmosphere grew progressively more negative with the manager continually attacking the players’ performances. Perhaps he expected that this would motivate them to prove him wrong. It didn’t work.

A Healthy Culture
Ole brings a fresh face (literally). His appointment is an appreciation of what “Manchester United” stands for - a positive attitude to go out and try to win games through attacking and entertaining football, developing young players, and buying a few existing big names as necessary. 
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Other key “back-room” staff were also changed, bringing back key people who have a deep appreciation of what it means to play for Manchester United.

The difference has been immediate. Not just wins but games played in the right spirit. Freedom, confidence and self-belief flow through a team that appears to be less rigidly coached. 

This natural, uncoached appearance is what we aim to achieve with the teams we prepare for presentations and assessments. A significant element of what Bid Coach does is to let individuals and teams see that they are good enough. We do this by providing a safe environment where they can refine their skills and learn from mistakes, without fear of retribution or rebuke. 

When they do face their prospective clients they have already experienced (in that safe environment) situations at least as challenging as they will face during the interview or assessment panel. They are not fazed or intimidated by the experience.

Building Resilience
The United team still has challenges to face but has a much healthier environment in which to find answers. It is also developing the self-belief that builds resilience.

This is very much what we do at the Bid Coach. We advise our clients where their potential team’s strengths lie in relation to the requirements of the client. Sometimes new people have to be brought in to add strength in certain key areas to give the team a better balance but usually it’s about building belief and confidence.

Taking the pressure off and building belief allows the team to perform without looking coached. Behaviours and interactions seem positive and natural, especially when put under pressure (as with behavioural assessment). Your client can then see how your people will behave if you are appointed as the nominated provider.

Feedback from bid appraisals shows that the difference in confidence and collaborative behaviours following interventions from the Bid Coach is something clients notice and appreciate. It could tip the scales in your favour on that next bid opportunity.