Leadership can be brutal, especially in sport
- Phil D'Adamo
- Oct 22
- 2 min read
Spare a thought for Ange Postecoglou, who has been sacked by Nottingham Forest after just 39 days and eight winless games. The shortest reign of a permanent manager in English Premier League history.
They say moving into a new role is one of the biggest leadership challenges anyone will face. A transition offers the chance to start fresh and make needed changes, but it also puts leaders in a position of acute vulnerability. Missteps in those first 90 days can derail your success before it has even begun.
To me, this feels ruthless and a little unfair. But as Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca put it:
“Unfortunately, it's a business where you need to win games. Otherwise, for all of us, it’s the same consequences.”
Postecoglou was unable to secure early wins and in big money competitive sport, winning is everything.
What is telling is his response. He reminded everyone that his story at clubs “always ends the same … with me and a trophy.”
In other words: Trust me - I know what I’m doing. I've done it before. I have a great track record.
But words only go so far when fans turn on you and performance stagnates. The same applies in corporate or leadership life. History fades fast when you are not winning.
The leadership lesson?
• Treat each new role as a true new beginning.
• Make a clean mental break from your old job.
• Take time to understand what is really different about this one.
• Match your strategy to the situation.
• Negotiate success early with your boss or board.
• Work on your communication, keep it fresh and relevant.
If things start slipping, have the courage to name and explain the real causes.
Let’s hope this isn’t the end for Ange. He has proven he knows how to bounce back.
#Leadership #LeadingChange #LeadershipDevelopment #ExecutiveLeadership #LeadershipLessons #TransitionLeadership #ChangeLeadership #AdaptiveLeadership #TheChangeLounge #AngePostecoglou #PremierLeague
