Leadership as a Journey, Not a Destination

> We often talk about how much you can learn from sport and transfer it to the business world. Often, the topic of leadership in high-performance teams is an example that people like to cite. I do that a lot too. Just this week, Dr. Tobias Duffner and I were at AlixPartners’ NextGen Aviation Leadership Event 2024 in Munich to speak about leadership. And yes, there are these essential building blocks that you find in all high-performance teams. However, leadership is so much more than that, so even successful leaders cannot be sure that their way of leading will still lead to success tomorrow.

Great leaders across disciplines face relentless pressures: politicians must reconcile competing interests while shaping long-term policies; business executives must steer companies through volatile markets and technological disruptions; scientists must balance the pursuit of discovery with the weight of ethical considerations and resource constraints; cultural icons must navigate the shifting tides of public sentiment while staying true to their creative visions. Like Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola, these leaders cannot rest on past successes; they must constantly recalibrate, reimagine, and recommit to their goals.

Leadership is often romanticized as a combination of mastery over fundamental principles and the charisma to inspire others. Yet, in practice, the realities of leadership are far more complex and less deterministic. Carlo and Pep—two titans in the world of football management—epitomize the paradox of leadership: even the best strategies and instincts can falter in the face of unpredictable challenges. Their journeys reveal that leadership is not a static state of mastery but an evolving art requiring humility, adaptability, and constant self-reinvention.

Leadership Foundations: Knowing the Blocks

Successful leadership is built on certain non-negotiables: a clear vision, effective communication, empathy, and strategic thinking. Carlo and Pep exemplify these qualities in their distinctive styles. Carlo’s approach is rooted in calmness and emotional intelligence. Known for fostering strong bonds with his players, he prioritizes harmony and trust, which have contributed to his success in leading teams like AC Milan, Real Madrid, and Chelsea to the pinnacle of European football.

Pep, on the other hand, operates with intensity and meticulousness. His tactical innovations have redefined modern football, and his ability to motivate his players has produced legendary teams at Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City. Whether it’s Pep’s commitment to playing out from the back or Carlo’s knack for managing star-studded squads, their methods offer valuable lessons in leadership fundamentals.

However, knowing the building blocks is not the same as ensuring success. This truth is evident in the recent struggles faced by both managers, highlighting the unpredictable nature of leadership in dynamic environments.

The Struggles of the Greats

Leadership, no matter how exceptional, does not come with guarantees. Carlo’s Real Madrid is a case in point. The acquisition of Kylian Mbappé was expected to elevate the team, but instead, it disrupted the delicate balance within the squad. With Vinícius Júnior thriving in Kylian’s favored left-wing role, Kylian has struggled to adapt as a central striker, leaving the team’s attack disjointed. Madrid’s recent performances, including a crushing loss to Liverpool in the Champions League, underscore the challenges of managing superstar egos and tactical cohesion.

Pep’s Manchester City has faced a different but equally challenging set of issues. After dominating English football for years, City is enduring a rare slump, losing five consecutive matches—a first in Pep’s career. Injuries to key players like Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne have exposed vulnerabilities in the squad, while lapses in defensive organization and waning confidence have compounded the crisis. Pep, known for his tactical ingenuity, has been candid about the struggles, admitting that even a manager with six Premier League titles must constantly search for solutions.

These examples dispel the myth that a leader’s success is solely determined by their expertise. Even the most accomplished leaders are subject to the complexities and unpredictability of their environments.

The Need for Humility

One of the most defining traits of exceptional leaders is humility—the willingness to acknowledge limitations and learn from failures. Carlo and Pep have demonstrated this quality throughout their careers.

Carlo’s calm demeanor belies a deep awareness of his own fallibility. He has often spoken about the importance of adapting to the needs of his players rather than imposing rigid systems. This philosophy was evident when he experimented with new formations to accommodate the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale during his first stint at Real Madrid. Even now, as he grapples with integrating Kylian, his measured approach reflects a leader who values flexibility over dogma.

Pep’s humility, though less apparent, emerges in his introspective moments. In a recent documentary about Manchester City, he admitted that his emotions can cloud his judgment and that he often re-evaluates his decisions to improve. Despite his intensity, Pep frequently emphasizes that winning is not guaranteed and that success requires constant effort and reinvention.

Humility is not about downplaying one’s abilities but about staying open to growth and embracing the realities of change. It allows leaders to pivot when their initial strategies falter, ensuring they remain effective in the face of adversity.

Adaptability: The Core of Effective Leadership

If humility is the mindset, adaptability is the action. In dynamic environments, leaders must respond to shifting circumstances with agility and creativity. Both Carlo and Pep have faced situations where adaptability was crucial.

For Carlo, adapting to the ever-changing dynamics of a star-studded squad has been a recurring theme. From managing the egos of players like Zlatan Ibrahimović and CR7 to reshaping Real Madrid’s attacking structure, his ability to pivot has been instrumental in sustaining success. However, the ongoing challenge of integrating Kylian highlights that adaptability is a continuous process, not a one-time solution.

Pep, too, exemplifies adaptability in his tactical experiments. He has redefined player roles, such as deploying João Cancelo as an inverted full-back or using Kevin De Bruyne in a false nine position. Yet, his recent struggles with City reveal that even the most innovative ideas can fall short. Injuries, squad fatigue, and a dip in form have forced him to reassess his strategies and seek new solutions, proving that adaptability is an ongoing challenge.

Leadership as a Journey, Not a Destination

The essence of leadership lies in the journey, not the destination. Carlo and Pep’s careers are reminders that leadership is not about reaching a point of perfection but about continuously evolving.

Pep’s reflections encapsulate this mindset: “It’s not about the trophies; it’s about the process and the joy in doing it.” Similarly, Carlo’s emphasis on building relationships and fostering trust underscores that leadership is as much about the journey as the results. Both managers understand that success is transient and that staying relevant requires relentless self-improvement.

This perspective is particularly valuable in high-stakes environments, where expectations are unforgiving and the margin for error is slim. Leaders must balance the pursuit of short-term goals with the long-term vision of sustaining success.

Lessons for Aspiring Leaders

The experiences of Carlo and Pep offer several lessons for leaders in any field.

Master the Fundamentals: Effective communication, empathy, and vision are non-negotiable.

• Clear Communication: Both Carlo and Pep excel at communicating their expectations. Carlo’s calm demeanor makes him approachable, fostering open dialogue with his players. His ability to diffuse tension and convey strategies succinctly is a model for leaders in high-pressure environments. Pep, known for his fiery passion, delivers his messages with intensity but ensures his players understand their roles and responsibilities on the field. In business, this translates to providing clear guidance while encouraging feedback to refine execution.
• Empathy: Empathy is not just about understanding others but also about aligning with their goals and emotions. Carlo’s empathetic approach has allowed him to connect deeply with his teams. For example, his sensitivity to players’ needs has led him to rotate lineups or adjust tactics to maximize their potential. Similarly, effective leaders prioritize their teams’ well-being, recognizing that personal growth and satisfaction drive organizational success.
• Vision: A compelling vision acts as a guiding light for teams. Pep’s footballing philosophy of positional play demonstrates the power of a well-defined vision. By ensuring every player knows their role within a broader tactical framework, he unites his teams under a shared purpose. Leaders in any domain must articulate a clear vision that inspires and aligns their teams toward a common goal.

Cultivate Humility: Acknowledge limitations and embrace learning opportunities.

• Recognizing Limitations: Both Carlo and Pep understand that even the best leaders don’t have all the answers. Carlo’s willingness to adapt his tactics to suit individual players, such as accommodating Cristiano Ronaldo’s unique style, highlights the importance of acknowledging gaps and seeking collaborative solutions. Leaders in business can mirror this approach by involving their teams in decision-making, fostering innovation and buy-in.
• Learning from Failures: Pep’s admission that his emotions sometimes cloud his judgment reflects a leader who learns from mistakes. This humility allows him to reassess his approach and improve. For professionals, this means viewing setbacks as opportunities for growth rather than as insurmountable failures. Embracing feedback, whether from peers, employees, or external stakeholders, is critical for self-improvement.

Stay Adaptable: Be willing to pivot and innovate in response to change.

• Reacting to Change: Carlo’s ability to manage diverse squads and adapt to evolving team dynamics is a testament to his flexibility. For example, his response to integrating Kylian into Real Madrid’s existing system showcases his willingness to experiment with formations and roles. But it also shows that, despite this willingness, things cannot work overnight. Similarly, Pep’s tactical innovations, such as introducing inverted full-backs, demonstrate how adaptability can drive progress. In business, leaders must be ready to pivot strategies when market conditions shift or when unforeseen challenges arise.
• Proactive Innovation: Adaptability is not merely reactive. It also involves anticipating trends and staying ahead of the curve. Pep’s ability to innovate tactically, even when his teams are dominant, underscores the importance of proactive change. Leaders should invest in continuous learning—be it through professional development, technology adoption, or trend analysis—to stay relevant in an ever-changing landscape.

Foster Relationships: Build trust and harmony within teams to unlock their full potential.

• Building Trust: Carlo’s reputation as a “players’ coach” stems from his genuine care for his teams. By treating players with respect and valuing their contributions, he creates an environment of trust. In business, cultivating trust requires transparency, consistency, and active listening. Leaders who build trust are more likely to foster loyalty and high morale within their organizations.
• Empowering Others: Pep’s ability to motivate players to reach their peak potential is rooted in his emphasis on empowerment. He challenges players to think independently, exemplified by his insistence that they understand the “why” behind his strategies. Leaders can adopt this approach by delegating responsibilities and encouraging autonomy, creating a culture where team members feel valued and capable of driving results.

Embrace the Journey: View leadership as an ongoing process rather than a final achievement.

• Focusing on Progress, Not Perfection: Pep often emphasizes the joy of the process over the final outcome, saying, “It’s about the process and the joy in doing it.” This mindset shifts the focus from chasing perfection to striving for consistent improvement. Leaders should celebrate small victories and use them as stepping stones toward larger goals.
• Balancing Short-Term Wins with Long-Term Vision: Carlo’s career exemplifies the balance between achieving immediate results and maintaining a sustainable vision. His approach to building harmonious teams ensures that success is not fleeting but enduring. Similarly, leaders should focus on long-term strategies while delivering incremental value to their organizations.
• Commitment to Growth: Great leaders are lifelong learners. Both Carlo and Pep constantly evolve their methods, reflecting a commitment to personal and professional growth. Leaders should prioritize self-improvement through reflection, mentorship, and exposure to diverse perspectives.

Bottom Line: The Ever-Evolving Art of Leadership

Leadership, as embodied by Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola, is not a finite skill to be mastered but an intricate and ever-evolving art. Their leadership journeys illuminate the complexities and nuances of guiding high-performance teams. Despite their towering successes, even these luminaries must grapple daily with challenges that test their adaptability, resilience, and self-awareness. Whether navigating the egos of superstar athletes or overcoming tactical missteps, their ability to lead lies not in the absence of failure but in their response to it. This dynamic mirrors the experiences of leaders in politics, business, science, and culture, where the stakes are similarly high, and the variables are equally unpredictable.

Leadership at the apex of any domain demands perpetual strategic recalibration. Political leaders must adeptly negotiate complex stakeholder landscapes while articulating forward-looking policy frameworks. Corporate executives navigate increasingly volatile market ecosystems, balancing technological imperatives with organizational resilience. In the scientific realm, researchers confront the delicate equilibrium between innovation and ethical constraints, managing finite resources with surgical precision. Cultural luminaries are similarly challenged, required to maintain artistic integrity while responding to nuanced shifts in public perception.

The most exceptional leaders—whether in the boardroom, political arena, or creative industries—understand that past achievements are mere prologue. Drawing a parallel with elite football strategists like Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola, true leadership demands continuous reinvention: a perpetual process of strategic reassessment, imaginative repositioning, and unwavering commitment to organizational objectives.

The art of leadership demands humility to accept that no solution is ever final, adaptability to thrive amidst change, and a profound understanding that the journey is as critical as the destination. Leaders who embrace these principles elevate not only themselves but also those they lead, crafting legacies that resonate far beyond fleeting victories. Leadership, at its core, is a testament to the human capacity for growth, innovation, and impact—a pursuit of excellence that remains both challenging and endlessly rewarding. Leadership is not a destination but an ongoing process of growth and reinvention.