Some call him the greatest coach in history. Sir Alex Ferguson spent 26 seasons as the manager of Manchester United, the English football (soccer) club that ranks among the most successful and valuable franchises in sports.
The Harvard Business School developed a case study around his approach to management. Here are a few key takeaways from the reading;
1. Working hard all your life is a talent, too.
2. If you give young people your attention and an opportunity to succeed, it is amazing how much they will surprise you.
3. It's important to have confidence in yourself to make a decision and to move on once you have. it's not about looking for adversity or for opportunities to prove power, it's about having control and being authoritative when issues do arise.
4. No one likes to be criticized. Few people get better with criticism; most respond to encouragement instead.
5. Rely on the Power of Observation.
6. Never Stop Adapting. You have to control change by accepting it.
