Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
“I’ve never played for a draw in my life.”
So said Sir Alex Ferguson, who took Manchester United from the doldrums to be one of Europe’s most powerful clubs and, in the process, built a reputation as one of the greatest football managers to ever take up the clipboard.
In a recent book, How to Think Like Sir Alex Ferguson: The Business of Winning and Managing Success, Damian Hughes attempts to unpick some of the attitude and approach which made Ferguson a success for 20 years in an environment where managers were routinely chewed up and spat out.
As the author, a clear fan of the volatile but charismatic leader, writes: “No one has managed at the highest level for so long. Or with such competitive courage.”
Who should read this book?
Hughes pitches the title at both bosses who are looking to get the most from those they lead and individuals trying to lift their own performance. Some sections focus on managing people, while others are very much about individual skills. But the author has good examples across the spectrum – from techniques for keeping focused to anecdotes from Ferguson’s career that show how he recruited the best players for the club and made the most of their skills.
Since his retirement from football in 2013, Ferguson has taken up a guest-lecturing slot at Harvard Business School, demonstrating the natural transfer of his skills from the sports field to the world of business. Hughes’ previous titles include Liquid Thinking: Inspirational Lessons from the World’s Great Achievers and How to Change Absolutely Everything – which gives you a fair idea of where the author is coming from.
What will it tell me?
Hughes’ focus through his book is on the concept of change or, to put it another way, how to continually lift performance. He starts with what are the building blocks of a strong team – choosing the right people, following Ferguson’s emphasis on players with “character” through his career as a manager.
The author uses one of many great Ferguson anecdotes to illustrate a key point here, the importance of finding people who were willing to accept their failings then work to improve them. A favourite ploy, he writes, was to invite potential recruits to a meeting and play them a video of one of their worst on-field moments as they sat in a darkened room. The United manager would then flick on the lights and ask: ”So what happened there?”
The purpose, according to Hughes, wasn’t to highlight playing flaws. Rather it was to work out how the footballer dealt with failure and whether they would strive to fix their shortcomings, or if they would simply try to sit on past successes.
In another chapter, Hughes looks at the importance of visualising goals. Here the Ferguson lesson comes from the 1999 UEFA Champions League decider, when Manchester United were trailing by a goal and looked out of the game.
During his half-time talk, the manager told his players to picture themselves standing a few feet away from the trophy as losers – knowing they had come so close but would probably never put their hands on the cup. The club later pulled off two, late goals and took home the title for the first time since 1968.
The lesson Hughes offers is that many people see themselves as the victims, not creators, of change, an attitude which was stifling to long-term success. He moves on to some step-by-step visualisation techniques using the example of players like Wayne Rooney who pictured themselves scoring goals the night before a big game.
But it’s not just Ferguson who Hughes draws on for his case studies. Writing about the need to be hungry for feedback and to better oneself, the author turns to guitarist Jimi Hendrix for his example.
The story goes that the great musical innovator once spent a night in a club listening to what was possibly the worst player ever to strap on the instrument. When asked why, Hendrix admitted it had been bad so far but added: “He might just play something that has never been played before. If he does – I want to be here to learn from it.”
Make no mistake, this is a self-help book – although one which is smarter than most. The concepts, like working out distractions and finding ways to overcome them, are hardly revolutionary. But Hughes breaks them down well with Ferguson, in most cases, working as an excellent real-life example for the lessons.
In a nutshell: There’s a lot of good things anyone – business managers especially – can learn from Ferguson and Hughes does a good job of breaking down these concepts and pairing them with more generic performance-coaching tips. But if your goal is to really drill into what makes this great manager tick, Ferguson’s autobiography could be a better place to start.
If you liked this, you’ll love:
The Manager: Inside the Minds of Football’s Leaders >
The Alex Ferguson Quote Book: The Greatest Manager in His Own Words >
Each month, as part of TheJournal.ie’s ongoing SME focus, we look at a business book that makes a difference. Our focus for January has been on how setting goals and getting staff working together can deliver the best results for a business. To read more articles in our series click HERE
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Why in hell is a credit union giving out loans over €1m?
They threw money at people in the boom, the personal loan equivalent of sub-prime in alot of cases. The majority requested no proof of income, even for loans of tens of thousands.
Looks like local rivalry and politics are playing a big part in this.
I can’t understand why people would knowingly ruin their credit ratings because they don’t agree with a merger. Am I missing something because this is illogical.
Naas is far away for some who have no transport. They plan to move it to a pretty out of the way part of Naas too. I can assume that’s where the anger is coming from.
The central bank is now facilitating the “take over” of all credit unions by private banks and restricting their ability to give loans- funds saved by members for use by members within there own communities….. You decide who can you trust: your local credit union or the banks!!!!
Not on my watch they wont,if my CU is taken over by any bank,im out, period.
@Lisa
I don’t believe they are closing Newbridge credit union down… people in Newbrdige can still go there… no need to travel to Naas town or Monread.
The central bank wants the 16 billion in credit union cash reserves to pump into the banks next time (soon) they need to be recapitalized…. Check the recent legislation changes
Who said anything about credit unions being taken over by banks. Lets stick to the fact and not the hysteria.
Lisa, I think the anger is coming from members who have had no say in this merger and who want to have a credit union for the town and not be taken over by a smaller credit union. There is also a huge problem with the lack of information about the accounts since 2010. Also it’s extremely likely that there has in fact been a run on the CU since the special manager was appointed. Most people I know have taken some or all of their money out and just left their account open. Newbridge will continue to have an office in the town and members won’t have to travel to Naas to do their business.
I agree with Anders to a certain extent, the people will just end up ruining their credit rating. The Credit Union will suffer to some extent aswell with the losses but it’s the people that are shooting themselves in he foot here, there’s protests and then there’s stupidity. I can’t see there being many partaking in knowingly withholding loan repayments because they don’t agree with a merger, everyone will talk about doing it though.
The Kay word there is draft accounts!! The credit unions have been under attack from banks ie central bank for a while. The members can not even elect directors as central bank choose the candidates. The gagging orders and bullying and threats have stopped full story coming out. Have no doubt if the central bank get away with this all credit unions are goners. People still think the central bank is the central bank of Ireland that works for us when in fact it works for ECB and is just a sub office. While we have been asleep we have been robbed of 85000000000000000000!!!
And our children have been illegally conracted to pick up tab with no credit union for odd luxury!!!
Who was it who got the credit unions into trouble in the first place? The credit unions themselves with reckless lending.
Look at that incredibly impressive €8m building in the image above and tell me why a small, local credit union felt the need to put up such a headquarters.
I wonder what the members would be saying if there was no Central Bank to sort out the mess their managers created? They’d be complaining how they’d lost everything most likely when the Credit Union collapsed and they’d be demanding action.
Totally agree with your comment large unused building is a joke I beleive they when built they had an ancor Tennant in place but very poor management decision s have placed NCU where it is. However keeping members in a vacume is not the answer the full previous management continue to be employed by thr CU along with the 1 M the special manager has taken . So a large building costing 8 M seems cheap after spending 1M on a manager for 18 months
Solbank, open to correction but as I understand it, members still nominate and elect Directors, but they have to be screened by CB? Anyone know exactly. It’s a very difficult area, you need a diversity on any Board but it has to include people who understand running a financial institution (albeit with a social ethos). You’re right in relation to the full story not being out but unfortunately I think heavy touch regulation is correct, whether this is the right form of heavy touch regulation, I’m not sure of.
I am surprised members in Naas not requesting a vote on this. Central Bank has to publish audit report of 2011 and now detailing position if withdrawls had not happened. This is the end of credit union movement and being done with very little coverage in the press Central Bank comes in and closes without any detail being provided to members
They are not happy either because they are just being told this is what is happening. I don’t know the whole story but lending to building developers, one in particular seems to be a huge cause of the hassle here. Spending €8 million on a Credit Union office is another.
@Seamus Naas CU members are not being informed of any of this. We hear about it happening on the news, thats it! If it was to go ahead, I would expect that information is sent to its current members however this is unlikely?
They might not have been officially informed but they know that is the plan of action. Not fair on their members either.
The current building is a large extension of a previous building, the extension was built in 2006 at a cost of €11m. The entire building is valued at €15m in the 2011 accounts. There is no evidence that FRS 11 has been applied – re writedown of assets which have been impaired.
Ok I’m might be out on the figures but they were what I was told by somebody involved with the CU at the time. My point was that there was never and still is no need for a three story building to house the Newbridge Credit Union offices at a cost of whatever. What’s it worth now?
Sorry just seen the €15 million valuation. The land behind it when sold in 2006 wasn’t even sold for that and that was at the height of the stupidity.
I just saw the ‘draft’ 2011 accounts, and was told by someone who is following the issue that it was built for €11m, they had to buy land beside the original building for the extension, so I assume it was for buying land and cost of construction. I assume the extra €4m is the value of the original building. The point about the €15m valuation in the accounts is unclear. Under the fixed asset note, it says a market valuation was done in November 2011 by xxxx, ie the name is xx’d out, so it’s not clear whether there was in fact a valuation done. But these accounts are signed by the Directors (but not the auditors, therefore they are still considered draft), so the question is did they sign them without actually having had a valuation done on the building or knowing whether €15m is actually the current valuation, or…more bizarrely, did an auctioneer value this building at €15m in Nov 2011? As far as I know, under accounting rules, if the value of the asset is impaired (extremely likely), they have to revalue it to market valuation or value in use and send the loss to the P&L. Very difficult to get any coherent answer on this question from anyone ‘in the know’. It’s not really the substantive issue in this sorry debacle but it gives some indication of the quality of the accounts.
The central bank (German ) would love the credit unions to take the bail out money thats just sitting there waiting for them to draw down. No use just having the banks in hoc ,the trick is to get the ordinary peoples credit unions in hoc as well. Central bank is trying to force this merger
Is reporting speculation and hearsay responsible journalism when it comes to reporting the risk of runs on particular financial institutions?
Yes when you have members claiming they will default in the event of a merger or would you prefer no one says anything and they keep their heads in the sand as in the past.
No they won’t default, it’ll do no damage to the CU anyways . All they will damage is their credit rating
You don’t know how Credit Unions work, do you?
Again it seems that the members who used the Credit Union for saving and small loans are being punished because of lending to developers, one in particular. Also spending €8 million on a building with 3 story’s just shows how the manager lost the plot.
The Central Bank and the Financial Regulator have made a mess of getting involved in Credit Unions.
For example the Financial Regulator is insisting all CU Staff must have a minimum “Qualification” that they set the standard of.
However these minimum “Qualifications” are NOT accepted by Banks or 3rd Level Colleges as “Qualifications”.
In fact should a CU staff Member with an “Advanced Certificate” in Credit Union Studies look at doing a Degree in Finance or Accounting or Business they will find they will have to start out in 1st year. However a 3rd Level Student who completes an “Advanced Certificate” in Finance or Accounting or Business will not be accepted as having an appropriate CU qualification, even though the Banks & 3rd Level Colleges accept it.
Basically the Central Bank and the Financial Regulator are running a scam on Credit Unions.
Not true. It is only those who are engaged in a Control Function (e.g. chairs, senior management) that must have these qualifications. It is clearly explained on the Central Bank’s website.
http://www.centralbank.ie/regulation/processes/fandp/creditunions/Pages/default.aspx
Ryan
You are correct on the Fitness and Probity applying to Control Function peoples, and came into affect on August 1st this year.
However I am talking about general CU office staff including Tellers, that as a minimum MUST complete the “Advanced Certificate in CU Studies”, which has been in existance for a number of years & obtained via distance learning from the University of Ulster. Or even the follow on Diploma from Cork.
None of the 3rd level Business or Finance courses available in the rest of the country allow course exemptions for CU Staff who have completed the CU Advanced Cert or Diploma. I have even heard of a CU Manager (in one of the Wicklow CU’s) with a Masters in Business being required to undertake the “Advanced Certificate in CU Studies”.
Now kindly double check those facts with the Central Bank & the Financial Regulator. Or even better apply to your local 3rd level institution & look for exemptions as you have an “Advanced Cert in CU Studies” and see what they offer you. But remember I have warned you.
Please be so kind as to link to the place on the Central Bank website where it states that all staff are required to complete these courses.
I have searched and cannot locate it so suspect that it may well be individual credit unions themselves placing requirements on their staff.
As for the manager example you give, he would be management so that would probably come under the Fitness and Probity regime? And even if he has an MBA, a credit union is different from a business.
It seems people cry out for regulation when something goes wrong and yet complain when it arrives.
I heard the bank of Ireland in newbridge have been eyeballing the credit union building for years,because they can’t build on to their building.
My issue, as a member of Newbridge CU is that a Special Manager was appointed in early 2012 and no information was forthcoming to members who own the CU. No AGM since 2010 – a gagging order on the directors & staff which resulted in no information being available to members. I received my first correspondence from the Special Manager 2 weeks ago & this was only because of the action taken by the Save Our Credit Union committee. We the members need to meet with Luke Charleton of Ernst & Young & members of the Central Bank to have our questions and concerns addressed – nothing more – nothing less!
I’m not sure what to do as a member of the Newbridge Credit Union – if it’s taken over by the bank then there is sure to be all sorts of charges introduced and sure if that’s the case I might as well put all my savings into my bank account and get one lot of charges. If it moves to Naas (which is what I heard was going to happen) then I’m definitely out as I’ve no transport and not travelling to Naas to lodge money! Makes me sick when I pass by the monster of a (fairly) new building that is the Credit Union in Newbridge!! Why did they waste money on such a massive and totally unnecessary building????
It is not being taken over by a Bank. Instead it is being merged with another, stronger Credit Union. It seems that there is a lot of misinformation being spread due to local rivalries between Naas and Newbridge.
Ciara, you will not have to travel to Naas, that has been fairly well confirmed, as far as I am aware. Unfortunately there is quite a bit of scaremongering, but there will still be an office in Newbridge. The special manager sent my Dad a letter recently and said Naas didn’t want the building so it will probably be sold if the merger goes ahead.
A small number of loans are believed to be for over 1 million euro,at Newbridge C.U, god almighty,what were they thinking breaking their own rules,this from a small saver instution,is it any wonder no other C.U wanted to touch it, with debts of 24 million euro and depositors threatning to default,there are people there that must be held accountable and prosecuted for allowing this dissaster to happen.
have your say