By Huw Bell
What have fighter pilots, provincial football teams and successful organisations got in common? How can lessons from military and sporting coaching and leadership be applied for companies and public sector organisations wanting to build high-performing teams?
My personal interest in this subject arises from following Scandinavian football and my experience as a Royal Air Force officer on operations with a front-line bomber squadron. Now, my passion is building high-performing team cultures; I have first-hand experience of both outstanding and poor leaders together with cultures of excellence and cultures of extreme toxicity. I have had the honour to lead teams and the opportunities to learn from my mistakes.
I draw inspiration from lesser-known sources. One such is Bjørn Mannsverk, a man whose journey took him from the skies as a Royal Norwegian Air Force F-16 fighter pilot over Libya to the sidelines of a football pitch as a mental coach for the Norwegian football team, Bodø/Glimt. He now builds sustainable performance cultures for the hugely successful Norges Bank investment Management. Along the way, he has gleaned invaluable lessons about culture and mindset that transcend the boundaries of professions, offering profound wisdom for businesses aiming to soar to new heights.
The proof of the success of Bjørn’s approach has been not only proven in terms of sporting success (see below), but also in the financial stability of Bodø/Glimt. According to analysis by Off the Pitch[1], measuring financial stability using data for EBITDA, Return on Assets and Equity Ratio of European clubs over three seasons, Bodø/Glimt are ranked first; quite an achievement for a small team in international sporting terms. Since 2018, the club have more than quadrupled its turnover, reaching €23.5 million during the most recent fiscal period.
Cultivating a Culture of Excellence
‘Promotions, titles, and wins in Europe over Tottenham Hotspur, Celtic, and Roma, including a 6-1 thrashing of the Italian outfit making them the first team in history to score six times against a Jose Mourinho side, only provide a snapshot into the remarkable work he has done for the club.’ [2]
Central to Mannsverk’s philosophy is the cultivation of a culture of excellence. As a fighter pilot and squadron commander, he understood the critical importance of teamwork, discipline, and a shared commitment to a common goal. In the high-stakes environment of aerial combat, there is no room for error, and every member of the team plays a pivotal role in ensuring mission success.
Similarly, in the worlds of business and public sector teams, success often hinges on the collective effort of a motivated and cohesive team. By fostering a culture where every individual is empowered to excel and contribute their unique strengths, organisations can unleash untapped potential and achieve extraordinary results. Mannsverk’s experiences underscore the importance of instilling a sense of purpose and camaraderie within organizations, where each member feels valued and motivated to give their best.
Cultivating a Growth Mindset
At the heart of Mannsverk’s approach is a commitment to fostering a growth mindset – the belief that intelligence, talent, and abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. Whether in the cockpit or on the football field, Mannsverk understood that success is not predetermined by innate talent alone but is rather the result of relentless effort and a willingness to learn from both successes and failures.
‘Glimt’s innovative approach to mental training and mindfulness does away with the results-based mentality and usual goal-setting for the season, focusing instead on the quality of performances alone. The approach includes meditation before training, group meetings, and one-on-one sessions focusing on techniques to improve performance and development.’[3]
In the business world, cultivating a growth mindset is essential for fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation. By encouraging employees to embrace challenges, persist in the face of setbacks, and seek out opportunities for growth, organisations can cultivate a workforce that is primed for success in an increasingly competitive landscape.
Embracing Adaptability and Resilience
“It started with some one-to-one work he did with one of our Academy graduates, Ulrik Saltnes, one of the captains of the team, who was a really good player but had fallen out of love with football.
We’ve done a lot of work this year looking at the framework of our character development programme. Bjørn sat in on those meetings and guided us and also checks us in terms of the language we’re using with the players.
That ability to work in the present has probably been the biggest competitive advantage we have had. Our Head Coach, Kjetil Knutsen, is an absolute master at it. He refuses to look past the next game and training session. He absolutely lives that mantra every day. And it’s a vital part of youth development.”[4]
In both the cockpit and the football pitch, adaptability and resilience are indispensable qualities for navigating through challenges and emerging victorious. Mannsverk’s time as a fighter pilot taught him the importance of remaining agile in the face of adversity, swiftly adjusting tactics to counter ever-changing circumstances.
Similarly, in the fast-paced world of professional football, where the margin between victory and defeat can be razor-thin, adaptability is key. Mannsverk’s tenure as a coach has seen him instilling a mindset of resilience and flexibility within his team, enabling them to weather setbacks and seize opportunities for growth.
Businesses and public sector organisations can draw valuable lessons from Mannsverk’s approach, recognising that the ability to pivot and innovate in response to changing market dynamics is essential for long-term success. By fostering a culture that encourages experimentation and learning from failure, organisations can position themselves as agile contenders in an ever-evolving marketplace.
Leveraging the Power of Collective Intelligence
Mannsverk’s journey also underscores the transformative power of collective intelligence. As a fighter pilot, he relied on the expertise and insights of his fellow squadron members to outmanoeuvre the enemy and achieve strategic objectives. Likewise, in his role as a football coach, Mannsverk recognises the importance of tapping into the collective wisdom of his coaching staff and players to devise winning strategies and tactics.
For businesses, harnessing the power of collective intelligence means creating an environment where diverse perspectives are valued, and collaboration is encouraged. By fostering a culture of open communication and knowledge sharing, organisations can unlock new opportunities for innovation and problem-solving.
Providing Psychological Safety
“Our mindset has helped us a lot, and I feel that the new players coming in adapt really quickly. They feel safe in our environment. We just want to push each other forward, and if someone makes a mistake or does something stupid, it’s okay, it’s acceptable in this club. I think the way we go about things in our club is really healthy”. Patrick Berg, Club Captain[5]
Psychological safety in business culture fosters an environment where employees feel comfortable taking risks, sharing ideas, and expressing themselves without fear of judgment or reprisal, leading to enhanced collaboration, innovation, and overall well-being.
In early 2020 Norway went into shutdown a couple of weeks before the UK and football completely stopped. Most clubs in Norway furloughed their staff and players. Some clubs furloughed ‘ the least valuable’ players and protected those on bigger contracts, as they knew there was an escape clause that could allow them to come out of their contracts otherwise.
The Bodø Sporting Director and team captains discussed protecting psychological safety ahead of a Board meeting. The Board agreed that all would take a 20% pay cut over the rest of the year on condition that if the team completed their sporting aims they would get that back double.
“That was a huge piece of work, not just for the culture of the club but because we kept training all the way through. Every other club except one in Norway had stopped training. So when we hit the start of the season, in May, we were blowing teams off the field. Our guys were absolutely on it and it gave us the momentum and was one of the reasons for our success last year”.[6]
Bodø won the league in 2020 (first time ever), 2022 and 2023.
This approach by the club engendering trust and psychological safety stood in stark contrast to many businesses where staff were dismissed or furloughed, resulting in extreme damage to team cultures that were reflected in many organisations struggles since the end of lockdowns.
Lessons for Business and Public Sector Teams
In the journey from fighter pilot to football coach and business advisor, Bjørn Mannsverk has amassed a wealth of insights into the power of culture and mindset in driving success. His experiences serve as a powerful reminder that the principles of teamwork, adaptability, collective intelligence, and growth mindset are universal, transcending the boundaries of professions and industries.
For businesses and public sector organisations seeking to thrive in today’s dynamic environment, Mannsverk and Bodø/Glimt’s lessons offer invaluable guidance on how to cultivate a culture of excellence, embrace adaptability and resilience, leverage the power of collective intelligence, and foster a growth mindset within their organisations to build high-performing teams. By drawing inspiration from Mannsverk’s remarkable journey, teams can chart a course toward success, navigating through challenges and emerging stronger, more agile, and more resilient than ever before.
We Can Help You to Apply These Lessons
At Alchemmy we know that building high-performing teams in the current environment isn’t easy. We draw on our collective experience in civil aviation, defence, rail, the public sector to bring a unique approach to supporting our clients. Bjørn Mannsverks’s approach and record is just one of our inspirations, which we use to sharpen our proven tools and methodologies. Our approach to building high-performing teams consistently results in significant improvements in team performance. With proven results in hundreds of teams over the years, we are well placed to help you understand, unlock, and unleash the potential of your team.
For more information on our High-Performing Teams Service, visit https://alchemmy.com/people-centred-change/ and get in touch:
Gavin Nicol
Head of People and Change Centre of Excellence
[2] B Mannsverk, Hallgeir Opedal, Kampklar, Bonnier Forlag, 2022. https://www.ark.no/produkt/boker/hobbyboker-og-fritid/kampklar-9788234706516
[4] https://trainingground.guru/articles/gregg-broughton-youth-development-lessons-from-bodo/glimt
[5] Patrick Berg, Bodø/Glimt club captain, quoted at https://apnews.com/bod%C3%B8-glimt-set-to-become-norwegian-champion-for-1st-time-d1a88b82e300b033605f56b28ac60966
[6] https://trainingground.guru/articles/gregg-broughton-youth-development-lessons-from-bodo/glimt
