As leaders, we all want a team of superstars. We all want to lead or coach the best of the best. But candidly, only a select few have the ability to do so. This is because an “8 talent” will not follow a “5 leader” for very long.
There is a process and art to leading elite talent.
I am currently reading Carlo Ancelotti’s excellent book Quiet Leadership: Winning hearts, minds and matches. If you are not familiar with Ancelotti you should be. Ancelotti is the most successful manager in UEFA Champions League history, having won the trophy a record five times, plus two more when he was a player. He is also the first and only one to have managed teams in six Champions League finals. Ancelotti is also the first and only manager ever to have won league titles in all of Europe’s top five leagues.
He has also coached some of soccer’s most legendary players, one being the incomparable Cristiano Ronaldo. On pages 54-58, Ronaldo talked about the impact Ancelotti had on his career and what made him such an excellent manager. The following are some quotes from that section. See if you notice a common theme:
- “As in any sport or job, he needs to treat the special players not differently, but with more care.”
- “He was always giving me confidence, all the time, and for me the most important thing is that he cares for me. He would always take care of me. These qualities are why every club wants him. He’s a special coach.”
- “They (Ancelotti and Sir Alex Ferguson) both create a family. They are different kinds of parents but the same thoughts about protecting you and enabling you to express your talent. Tactics weren’t the main thing with either of them.”
- “Carlo was closer to us and took more care of the players.”
- “Even with all that knowledge, the key for them is the relationships they build. Each is aware that only by having great relationships can you get the best from the players. That is what is special about them.”
- “Carlo knows when it’s time to have fun and when it’s time to work and be serious. He always finds the right balance because of his knowledge, his experience. He’s an intelligent coach because he cares and wants the best for you.”
To lead elite talent, you must be a culture builder, have a high level of knowledge about your craft, organizational skills, experience, and the ability to make the players better. Without these five qualities, you will not be able to lead elite talent for long.
But what stood out most to Cristiano Ronaldo, arguably the second-best soccer player in history, is that Carlo Ancelotti cared for him. In fact, in the six sentences above, he used the term “care” on five different occasions.
What this tells me is that if you want to lead elite talent, they must know you “care” for them and will take “care” of them. More importantly, you must care more about them as people than what they can do for your organization.
You must place People above Production, Profits, Performance, or Processes if you want to lead elite talent.
If not, elite talent always has options. They will find someone who will.
If you have not purchased Carlo Ancelotti’s excellent book, you can do so by clicking HERE or on the image provided. Trust me, if you are looking to lead elite talent and at the highest level, you will be glad you did.
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