Lessons business managers and professionals can learn from Sir Alex Ferguson.

1. in focus
Sir Alex
Ferguson
10 lessons for managers

2. Sir Alex Ferguson
Photo courtesy of http://wallbase.cc/wallpaper/2818226

3. Facts & Figures
SAF outlasted 5 American Presidents, 5 British Prime
Ministers, 10 Liverpool, 18 Chelsea and 19 Man City Managers

4. Set high
standards and
hold everyone
to them
"I constantly told my squad that
working hard all your life is a talent.
But I expected even more from the
star players. I expected them to work
even harder."

5. Live and build a
balanced life
Life outside work: family, hobbies and a horse or two!
Photo: http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/aug/05/gibraltar-in-numbers-britain-spain

6. Have absolute
authority over those
you manage
Leadership is ruthlessness.
It involves tough love and being
prepared to stand by your decision!
Photo: http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/football/clubs/manchesterunited/
article3707073.ece

7. Mentor & take genuine
interest in your people
“I was scared to go and knock on his door because of who he
is but he always made me feel as if I was part of a family and
that’s how you feel when you’re at Manchester United.”
Photo: http://wallbase.cc/wallpaper/2765557

8. You must keep reinventing
yourself & your team
learning, evolving and remaining motivated in pursuit of excellence.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/fergusonrubbishes-wayne-rooney-rift-nonsense-the-boys-staying-put-at-oldtrafford-29117636.html

9. Believe & invest in
youngsters
Ferguson told the Harvard Business School that core
to his success at Manchester United was building a
“club” and not just building a “team” to survive:
“The first thought for 99% of new managers is to make
sure they win – to survive. They bring experienced
players in, often from their previous clubs. But I think it
is important to build a structure for a football club, not
just a football team. You need a foundation. And there
is nothing better than seeing a young player make it to
the first team. The idea is that the younger players are
developing and meeting the standards that the older
ones have set before.”

10. Believe & invest in youngsters

11. An eye for planning
and details
SAF recognised the value of the ’6P’s
(Perfect Planning Prevents Particularly Poor
Performance) leaving nothing to chance.
Ferguson always retained a short term goal focus
(building towards peak performance at critical
junctures in the season and relentlessly winning
trophies), a medium focus (squad regeneration) and
the long term – building the club structure.

12. Only accept winning
“I’ve never played for a draw in my life,” SAF
“If there is one lesson politics can take from sport, and someone as
successful as Fergie, it is that if winning is what matters, make sure
you do everything you need to do to win. That sounds obvious. But it
is a mindset that combines the big vision with microscopic attention
to detail.” Alistair Campbell!
Photo: http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Latest-News-Wires/2013/0508/SirAlex-Ferguson-to-retire-Who-will-replace-him

13. Rely on the Power of
Observation
"I came to see observation as a critical part of my management
skills. The ability to see things is key -- or, more specifically, the
ability to see things you don't expect to see.” SAF!
http://www.letsgetreadytoramble.co.uk/?tag=sir-alex-ferguson

14. Another lesson
learned?

15. Leave
while
you are
still at
the top.
Photo: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/manchester-unitedmanager-sir-alex-1885487

16. And some Fergie Time”
A truly great leader can
shift other people’s
perceptions of reality inspire people to do the
impossible.
http://nojesguiden.se/sites/default/files/users/17145/
_67466495_fergie_time_getty.jpg

17. May these tips help you if
you’re in a similar situation…

18. On Arsène Wenger
"They say he's an intelligent man, right? Speaks
five languages. I've got a 15-year-old boy from the
Ivory Coast who speaks five languages!"
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2057632/Arsene-Wenger-pays-tribute-Sir-Alex-Fergusons-25-years-Manchester-United.html

19. Sir Alex
Ferguson

20. thank you
United Damu
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