Leadership and planning gains results

My blog writing experience is limited to say the least and being a Newcastle United fan I can’t believe I’m about to credit a Sunderland fan for giving me the inspiration to put pen to paper, but here we are!

During my usual commute home I tuned into TotalSport on Radio Newcastle to listen to the trials and tribulations of football fans across the North East. Of late, the calls coming in from die hard Newcastle and Sunderland fans have been of complete contrast. Whilst Newcastle sit at the top of the Championship table things couldn’t be better and callers are ringing in full of praise for their team. Unfortunately for Sunderland fans it couldn’t get much worse, as they sit rock bottom of the Premier League holding the record for the worst ever start to a Premiership campaign. Fans are angry and frustrated – rightly so.

But it was the call of one particular Sunderland fan that grabbed my attention. He was very articulate in his summary of why Sunderland are failing to deliver results on the pitch this season. ‘Sunderland are lacking an identity, direction and leadership’ the caller said. ‘When you look at the players on the pitch they look lost, nobody seems to know what to do and they’re turning to the manager who seemingly looks clueless. Take Arsenal for example, you know what to expect from their team, they’ll pass you to death and press you into making mistakes. West Brom are very well drilled, they are compact and hold their shape, making it hard for teams to break down. Sunderland need a game plan so that when that whistle goes the players know how to go and get a result, before that happens, relegation is inevitable.’

I then thought about the contrast in fortunes at Newcastle because it was not so long ago that we were in a similar position. So what’s changed. Simple. Rafa Benitez. This is a man who understands what is required to get results and has had a huge impact since his arrival six months ago. His brief for this season is to win promotion and he’s on course to do just that. During pre-season the club had a massive clear out of players who simply lacked ambition and heart. The recruitment drive, whilst not setting pulses racing, was efficient; bringing in players who have Championship experience and the hunger to do well. Finally we look like a club with direction. We have a strategy in place, leaders in the dressing room and a confidence that comes with winning matches. The meticulous Benitez approaches each game differently, picking players that fit with his game plan, unafraid to make changes, often to puzzlement of fans.

As Client Campaign Manager for Onyx Health I often work with SMEs from around the region. Many have great ideas and products but lack direction, leadership and experience within the health sector. When it comes to sales and marketing, it’s incredibly important to have a plan in place otherwise budgets quickly disappear and the expected results never materialise.

We may not have Benitez at our helm but we do have Karen Winterhalter, so if you’re working in the health sector and need some strategic direction and a game plan to get your products sold, then get in touch.