What businesses lessons can we learn from the Women’s World Cup?

Ireland’s appearance in the Women’s World Cup may have been short lived, but that doesn’t take away from the amazing achievement of the Girls in Green.

This was the first time the team has ever qualified for a major tournament; a huge step that demonstrates the resilience and hard work of everyone involved with the women’s football programme.

And there are valuable lessons that businesses can take from this.

Moira Grassick, Chief Operating Officer at Peninsula Ireland, says “The achievements of the Girls in Green should not be understated, even though their World Cup campaign did not go quite as everyone had hoped. The team has shown drive and determination, working towards a common goal - something that will resonate with businesses across the Emerald Isle.

“Here are the top lessons I think every employer should take away from this:

If at first you don’t succeed… “In business – as in life - not every venture will pay off, but we cannot let this get us down. Take time out to evaluate what went well, and the areas for improvement that can help you come back stronger next time. Money, time, and resources invested are not wasted, but an investment in the future. It’s very rare for anyone to succeed at the first time of trying. Instead, dust yourself off, get back up and be proud of what you have achieved so far. Then try again and keep trying until you reach your ultimate goal…..whether that’s lifting the World Cup, landing a big contract, or growing your business.”

Dream big “Whether you run a well-established business or a brand-new startup, your goal is likely the same. You want to provide a service or product of value to your customers. Big dreams are created by those who are passionate about what they do. They often take time to achieve, but the satisfaction and sense of achievement you get along the way makes the journey worthwhile and is the reason we get up and keep trying every single day.”

Create the right team “We’ve all heard the saying ‘teamwork makes the dream work’. While it may be a cliché, it’s true that very few business owners will achieve success on their own. Building a dedicated team of people all working together towards a common goal is the quickest route to success. This was clearly demonstrated after Ireland’s 2-1 defeat to Canada; despite being distraught, every player made sure to support their fellow teammates, embracing and consoling each other after the final whistle.”

*Maintain morale * “Just like football, business can be unpredictable. There will always be peaks and troughs; disappointment interspersed with big wins and reward. During times of difficulty and struggle, it’s important to maintain team morale. Everybody wants to succeed, no matter what they do. While our goals may be different the disappointment felt during times of failure are felt just as keenly, in the same way that the successes are celebrated. When things are not going as planned, take time to get together, share ideas and help each other out. Motivation is the key to morale so if you notice that someone on the team is struggling, take time to talk, find out what is going on and put additional support in place. When a team is supported and happy, productivity and quality of work is high and everyone is ready to come back stronger than ever before - just like the Girls in Green.”

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