Insights

10 Valuable World Cup Rules That Will Encourage Job Success

It may come around every 4 years, but with the Socceroos only entering the FIFA World Cup for the fifth time in 2018 – and only having made it out of the initial group stages once – soccer in Australia doesn’t inspire the same passion as the footy, cricket or rugby. But despite their failures, they still make a go of it. That’s not the only lesson to be learnt from the World Cup: we’ve come up with ten that you can apply at your workplace.

Rule One: Teamwork makes the dream work

Soccer relies on teams of players working together – and to work together well they must get along. Your job might involve less running down fields but there’s still plenty of passing between your team. Strengthen these bonds and everyone will prosper.

Rule Two: Fans matter

No world cup is complete without the sounds of the fans: the singing, the cheering, the commiserations. A support system is a powerful thing: build yourself a fanbase at work and let them cheer you on to victory.

Rule Three: Foul behaviour has consequences

Just as bad behaviour on the pitch gets a yellow or red card, you should never foul others in your office. Play clean and do no harm. Ask yourself if its worth it before taking part in office gossip.

Rule Four: The next generation needs to be nurtured

From the kids who run with players to the pitch, to the scouts seeking talent from the age of five: soccer nurtures its future players. So should you. Whether mentoring in-house or visiting schools, there’s plenty you can do to give back.

Rule Five: You won’t get anywhere arguing with the ref

Sometimes things don’t go your way. You might feel unfairly picked on. But take it from every soccer player ever: arguing with the ref achieves nothing. Learn to moderate your reactions – and choose your battles wisely. Is it worth a penalty?

Rule Six: Find strength in diversity

Just as soccer teams need players in different positions with different skills, offices need a diversity of workers. After all, a game of soccer with only goal-scorers would be pretty boring. Embrace the difference; what can your colleagues teach you?

Rule Seven: The rules can be difficult understand, but persevere

No one actually knows the offside rule, just as no one has written the customs or secret rules at any office. The best thing you can do is observe carefully, act with integrity, and be open to learn.

Rule Eight: Your performance is only as good as your leader

A soccer team is more than players on the field: there’s a captain, coach, management and the support team. Without these, the team is likely to fail. At work, you need good management – otherwise you’ll struggle to unleash your potential. Bear that in mind during your job search.

Rule Nine: Decide a kit to save time

Wearing the same thing every day on the pitch means soccer players spend less time worrying about their appearance and more on their peak performance. Invest in your work uniform, and use your saved time for self-development.

Rule Ten: Playing dirty never works (unless you play dirty beautifully)

Soccer is all about fair play – which is aided by extensive modern technology and cameras now. You should also approach your work with a fair play attitude. But as Maradona’s infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal in Argentina’s 1986 match against England shows – sometimes an outrageous move can pay off.