This evening I finally had the chance to catch the BBC documentary on the ‘Secrets of Alex Ferguson’s Success’. For those of you who missed it, there were a few key messages that I have summarised here.
- Set clear expectations at the start – When Ferguson took over at Manchester United, a drinking culture existed at the club. Ferguson knew that this wouldn’t support the creation of a successful team. He told his players this behaviour had to stop. Those who changed stayed. Those who didn’t were transferred out and replaced with younger talent. He set his stall out immediately. When you’re given the opportunity to lead, people will watch you closely at the start. They’re looking to see what you stand for – where your professional standards lie. Ferguson made this clear and then followed through by getting rid of anyone who didn’t meet this expectation.
- Treat everyone with respect – Ferguson knew the names of everyone at the club. Not just the players, but the laundry staff, the receptionists and cooks. These people matter. They all play a part in the success of the team on the pitch. An Army cannot fight without logistics, the bullets and beans that keep men going. A football club is no different.
- Discipline – Ferguson was the first to arrive at the club. He set standards, which demonstrated a hard work ethic. He grew up near the Docks in Glasgow. This attitude to build ships and get the job done whatever the weather, stayed with him and was crucial in his success.
- Details are important – He insisted that his players took pride in representing Manchester United. Expectations were set and the standards were high. He made sure that they were smartly dressed whenever they represented the club.
- Know your people – He knew his people and he knew their families. He also knew what worked with them, whether it was the ‘hairdryer treatment’ or a quiet word. When Eric Cantona lashed out at that fan, he supported him. He didn’t condone his behaviour but he kept him at the club and kept him motivated when everyone else wanted him gone.
- Family come first – There are things that are more important than football – and there are things that are more important than business. He didn’t loose sight of that. When Ronaldo’s father was in a coma in London, Ferguson let him go to spend time with him. The club needed him as it was at an important stage in the Champions League. However, family comes first. Ferguson knew that and had his priorities in the right order.
- No one is bigger than the team – Not even the Captain. Roy Keane was transferred out after he started to publicly criticise his teammates.
- Develop your people – Ferguson knew that people couldn’t play forever so he was constantly preparing to bring in youth to replace ageing players. The average age at the club remained at 27 for the majority of his tenure. He gave his young players confidence. He told a 17-year-old Ryan Giggs to just go out and enjoy himself on his debut. He took the pressure off the young lads when they needed it.
The documentary concludes with one word that summarises Ferguson’s style – consistency. He was consistent in his standards and expectations. This made these standards clear for his people to know where the line was.
He got to know his players, this investment in the relationship paid dividends as he gained insight into how to motivate them.
Know your people. Set high standards and hold people to them. Lead by example. Act in the interests of the team.
Everything else is just noise.
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