The Leadership Coach's Blog
This leadership coach's blog, comes as Chelsea's title challenge falters after a goaless draw at Carrow Road.
Football Leadership : Andres Villas Boas - Control!
It''s very unlikely that Chelsea will secure the Premier League title this season. Ten points adrift of the leaders, and not really playing the kind of football befitting of champions.
With Andres Villas Boas in his first season at the helm, it's really a bit if a transition time at Stamford Bridge. Senior players will gradually need replacing, and it may take Chelsea a few seasons, to re-establish the power and authority they had as a team under Jose Mourinho.
Villas Boas is an unusual presence on the touchline. Constantly crouching, then springing onto his heels, directing his players like a musical conductor.
But the question is why does he need to be constantly orchestrating play from the sidelines. Surely if his training methods were methodical enough, his players would know what was expected of them.
Are they so lacking in awareness, that they need constant reminders from the boss of how to react to match situations?
It brings into question, what exactly is the role of a manager during a game. Villas Boas behaves like a twelfth player. Seemingly wanting to control everything that happens beyond the white-line. But is that really the best use of his acumen?
He is working with top-class international players. They are top-class because they can read and react to match situations intuitively. They need the coach to make subtle adjustments positionally and tactically, as and when they are needed. But that is all they really need.
Perhaps Villas Boas feels that by being a touchline presence, he can establish a better feel for the game, and thus make clearer decisions. But has he thought through the effect his behaviour may have on his players?
They must be aware of him throughout the match. Not affording them the space to play naturally. Do they ask amongst themselves, why he doesn't stand back like most managers do, and intervene only when it's necessary to do so? And does this mean that his players don't take as much responsibility for team-outcomes, as they have done in the past?
Andres Villas Boas is an in-experienced manager. With time and experience will come the recognition that you can't control everything. In fact you don't need to. Over-control negates natural leadership. It robs players of their power and authority. And usually derives from the fear of not being in control.
Perhaps Chelsea's under-performing season is a reflection of the Villas Boas leadership style. In attempting to control the strings from the touchline, he is taking away from his players the one thing they have developed in abundance. That is football intelligence. In other words the ability to know how to win football matches.
In time, perhaps the Chelsea manager will reflect on his leadership style, and recognise the negative impact he may be inadvertently having. But when you have a strong control based leadership style, self-reflection is not normally the order of the day!
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Martin Perry - Leadership Coaching: 21st January 2012
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