Eleni Chalkidou, Director of Strategic Communications and Lee Saunders, Head of English Content at Nishlis Legal Marketing, look back on the World Cup 2022 and draw parallels to the legal sector.
Over 1 billion people from across the globe watched a dramatic final that saw Argentina pick up the FIFA World Cup trophy for the first time since 1986. As the memes and plaudits go viral, there are poignant and valuable management and business lessons to be taken away from a World Cup that saw underdogs Morocco progress to the semi-finals, gave Saudi Arabia the shock victory over the eventual champions in the first group match, and highlighted the humility and values of some of the world’s most decorated stars.
(1) Law firms that we work with often take pride in showcasing their strength in numbers, where the key lesson is the importance of teamwork. No successful firm can make it to the very top of the game as a one-man/woman show. The synergy of individuals transparently working together for a common cause is paramount to organic growth and meeting goals. Strong and clear internal communication and sharing of data and content is as key as it is for soccer teams. Messi instinctively knows where his teammates are because they share that information.
(2) A continually evolving strategy, the ability to learn from mistakes, and being persistent is another key takeaway from the World Cup. Despite the surprising defeat in their opening game and throwing 2-0 leads away against Netherlands and France, Argentina embraced any necessary changes, knew their strengths, stuck to and adapted their strategy to do what they needed to do.
(3) Finally, the impact of training and developing young talent is vital. Messi’s achievements did not happen yesterday. Over 20 years, he has developed the technical nous, scoring instinct, and creative flair to become one of the all-time greats. Empowering today’s talent by helping to develop, train, and nurture them professionally ultimately gives them and the team the greatest chance of success.
The most valuable lesson of them all for law firms, and for business too.
