What does the Portuguese football team teach us about management?

fter a legacy of defeats in decisive phases and a Greek goal that took the cup away from the country in 2004, it is understandable that Éder's goal did not seem enough with 11 minutes left in a game of 120. I was at the airport waiting for a flight, surrounded by a few Portuguese who, like me, never thought that Portugal would reach the final.

But what has changed?

If we look at the big organisations, there are 3 things they do and have always done. Whether we talk about General Electric in the 80s, Microsoft in the 90s or Google in 2000, there are 3 things that have given them an edge on the scoreboard:

1. have strategic clarity;

2. Implement with rigour and discipline;

3. Build a high performance culture.

The same applies to the Portuguese national team. 

In the past, the national team had a style of play that entertained the fans, but lacked consistency and therefore championships. Today, the team seems to know exactly what to do to win: defend first and wait for a goal-scoring opportunity. The reality is that we have effective strikers who can make the difference in seconds, but first we need to make sure the ball doesn't enter our goal. This strategic clarity is key to getting results. 1 

As everyone knows what they need to do, the players follow the tactic to the letter, implementing it with rigour and discipline. That's why, when we watch a Portugal match in the World Cup, we notice that, the moment the opposing team is attacking, the players position themselves behind the ball line, with the common goal of nullifying the opponent's move. At this point, we must also thank the captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, for being a leader who inspires the team by his unquestionable discipline and rigorous work method. 2 

Finally, from the coaching staff to the players, everyone gives their best every day, promoting a high performance culture. Everyone works towards the same result, trying to perfect their individual role with strategy in mind. The reality is that the Portuguese national team's journey was anything but easy during Euro 2016, but their focus allowed them to overcome the less good. 3 

In the beginning, the Portuguese complained that it was an "ugly" game, that Portugal was not capable of winning in 90 minutes and that "in Eusébio's time it was". Then came the victory that never felt so good! And that victory was only possible because the national team managed to analyse the resources it had and design the tactics according to its strengths and weaknesses, giving the players what 99% of the companies lack: strategic clarity.

Fernando Santos seems to have changed the history of the Portuguese national team by taking strategic clarity to the pitch, motivating for discipline and being objective in criticism, leading to a culture of high performance. And this seems to prove that what works for business, works for football.