[Albion] Potter - emotional intelligence:

[SIMMO SAYS]

I didn’t realise he was joking! Where’s the smiley face?

:

 

[Eric the meek]

This is a really good thread, and shows just how good NSC can be.

I thought the explanation of emotional intelligence from [MENTION=36757]Happy Exile[/MENTION] was excellent.

One question - to go back a step, I wonder who it was at the club who first had the idea of considering Potter for the job of manager? He wasn't exactly a household name back then.

 

[ken tiler]

Thanks for all you've shared on this thread - really interesting to read. Totally agree on Mourinho, at first he came across as self-aware and even gently self-mocking at times but increasingly seemed bitter and disinterested. Sad is definitely the word.

Very interesting discussion. Makes me wonder about the management styles of other past Brighton managers and their style with respect to their success or failure. If the accounts from past players such as Brian Powney during the reign of Clough and Taylor, Spencer Vignes book "Bloody Southerners", are true, their style would seem to fall into the Mourinho and autocratic rule by fear camp. It makes you wonder how they achieved such success. Also, I believe, Mourinho, was heavilly infulenced by Bobby Robson in Portugal who seems a competely different style of manager.

 

[Questions]

Emotional intelligence….. He’s Bruce Lee

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

It's not often I read a thread on NSC and think I can actually offer anything more meaningful than a pitiful attempt at humour but this aligns a bit with what I do for a living. In a way I still find bizarre and with enormous imposter syndrome, (and this is impossible to talk about without sounding like it's an outtake from Twenty Twelve) part of what I get paid for is helping people in the corporate world develop emotional intelligence and use neuroscience and psychology to perform better - a lot of what I bring in to what I do is from sport but also the arts because cinema (for example) is amazing for all this too.

I could geek about it for DAYS but instead what I'll point out is the entirely obvious and that one of the key attributes of successful leadership is role-modelling of the behaviours you want to see in others. Combine that with emotional intelligence to bring the best out of people and consciously adapt to meet them where they need you rather than where you need them and it's basically a super-power. Read anything about Fergie at United and this was him too.

Like Fergie at United, Potter's been given time which is essential for it to work. So if we think about what behaviours Potter is role-modelling in public, and how that's going to be amplified massively in private with the players, you can also see how that now comes through them too in the way they play and talk and perform. It's in Potter's interviews too - he wants them to develop personally as well as professionally, he sees football as a means to players becoming better people too etc etc. Watching Potter is like a textbook in emotional intelligence training brought to glorious life - he'll be doing most of it innately I reckon, because he seems like a very decent bloke who just "gets" people, but the academic side he's got will absolutely give the confidence and evidence-base to press on when things are looking less pleasant if he's doubting himself.

There's masses and masses in emotional intelligence work about how you create a culture of trust in a team and you can see that in his work, and that rounded development of people and the seeing them as "more than their jobs" that Potter does is a huge part of it. You can see that trust then come through on the pitch. Want to play March or whoever out of position? That's the consequence of 12 months working on them as a full human being to build their trust in your judgement as well as their own judgement as much as it's working on them tactically as a player. Another biiiiiiiig part of that is constantly demonstrating you have someone's best interests at heart. So if you're an Albion player and working with Potter is helping you be a better husband / father / human and you can see how it's setting you up for life after the game too you're going to love him and trust him more than anything. It's no wonder they look such a happy bunch. It's not just the players Potter will be influencing and even working with either, it'll be the whole set up at the club he'll be driving, because if the security guy is happy, positive and focused on the same things as Trossard that actually makes a difference. Southgate, for whatever his faults, has done an amazing emotional intelligence job with England and knowing a bit about how he's used psychologists and organisation design specialists to map all the player touch-points (God, I hate corporate speak) it's similar to Brighton and Potter - everyone an England player encounters at any point in their time with the England team has the same ethos, attitude, values, approach, and common language talking about things (e.g. it's never "we'll try" unless by mistake, it's always "we will"...they never "understand" because that's hard to measure, they "demonstrate they can" etc etc). It's small things, but Southgate attributed some of the success in Russia with these changes and the fact the people who serve up food in the canteen are part of a whole experience for everyone that reinforces an attitude and approach.

The "us against the world" team building of Mourinho has a limited shelf-life for trust which is why he always falls apart spectacularly. I love watching Tuchel constantly blaming things outside of his control too because it's going to implode massively soon (people who constantly feel they have no autonomy over their outcomes, as the Chelsea team will be feeling because it's never their fault, never sustain any kind of success - you can't be permanently angry and feeling powerless and if you're unaccountable for failure your brain will automatically cap how accountable you feel you can be for success...they might still win stuff, but not as much as they could have). I know Howe isn't popular but I reckon he's probably pretty good on EI. Moyes too. Klopp will be great at it. I suspect Arteta is rubbish. Lampard won't be good because he seems to have too much of an ego and victim complex, Gerrard though - like Guardiola - isn't worried about a bit of vulnerability occasionally so I think is probably good too. Rogers I reckon has read all the books and is good at applying it but doesn't have it innately so it'll always be management theory and not "lived".

Anyway. I'm geeking FOR DAYS if I don't stop now. It'll be a sad day when Potter goes, but again, if you listen to him he talks about how Bloom and Barber role-model behaviours (Barber's legendary accessibility to us randoms for example is amazing role-modelling of wanting to ensure we all feel valued even if we disagree about something - everyone feeling valued being a core of emotional intelligence) so we can be sure whoever the next manager is will be a continuation on a theme and style, and that can only be a good thing. From the bit of research I've done into it for work I think Liverpool are the closest Premier League club to us in that style of operating where emotional intelligence and "whole player" work is the norm, that's why I tipped Potter to be Klopp's successor unless he goes straight to the England manager job. I think he could walk into either and not have a big cultural rebuilding job and that'd suit Potter and either Liverpool or England a lot.

The only other thing I'll say, and I can do this with absolute authority on the topic, is that I wish I had Potter's beard.

Thank you for this a decent read and goes to show how deep EI can go.

Out of interest, are there any observations for managing players who have come back from long term / serious injury (I’m thinking March & Lamptey as examples) and the theory of getting them to believe in themselves again whilst omitting the fear of further injury all be it subconsciously?

Thanks


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Questions]

Emotional intelligence….. He’s Bruce Lee

 

[Baldseagull]

Emotional intelligence….. He’s Bruce Lee

Emotional content....NOT anger. Don't think, feeeeeel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QU9SsTwY5nU

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I didn’t realise he was joking! Where’s the smiley face?

He only ever moos

 

[Barnet Seagull]

It seems Happy Exile is the clear expert here but having gone through a degree in management psycholody a good amount of management training and having a very good understanding of attachment disorders and the impact on EI, I find this subject and organisational culture in general fascinating.
From my practical experience, cultural change takes time to really embed. You'll always have those who are quick to adapt to the change, those who take more time and those who will never adapt.
What's really interesting to me is how this applies in football clubs. In business, much of this change is slow and incremental due to the costs involved vs perceived benefits. In a multi-million pound football club in a very competitive industry, things have to be quicker in order to retain or gain competitive advantage. It's organisational change on steroids.
What is interesting is the focus on a clear blueprint then evolution rather than revolution and this is something that our club and Brentford do incredibly well. Get the recruitment and development pathways right and things feel so much more considered and connected.
On the EI side, treating people fairly and openly with compassion and understanding are the pre-requisites. This is where the development pathways and recruitment also come to bear. Knowing your "plan" allows a level of certainty to focus on improving. This openness between employee and employer breeds trust and confidence. Add to that the desire from the club to educate, support and help make you a "better" person and you can start to understand why players are developing so well both in and out of the club. You even see this at the very top level towards us, the fans and you know what, it makes us feel good and have confidence too.
I really enjoy the humility, the togetherness and the grounding of people at this club. GP and his team are a big part of that but as with Ashworth, the foundations are there now. The job is to keep building on them so that when GP eventually goes, we continue to develop. In my view, the real success of a manager is not in what they deliver, it is in what they leave behind. To me, it's an incredibly exciting and bright future.

 

[US Seagull]

Thank you. So, coming at this from very much an outside perspective I agree, I suspect he over-thinks everything and is incredibly sensitive to criticism. There's enormous amounts of work in sports psychology about how you can't think "don't slice it / don't miss" etc. Negative thinking in that way interrupts your instinctive, trained, practiced ability - most penalty players who miss the target or fluff badly it'll be because they are thinking "don't miss" or something along those lines. Gary Speed (scored 13, missed 2) used to say he never picked where he was going to shoot, he'd practiced it a million times so just went through the motions, he only thought what direction he'd run in to celebrate. I reckon Maupay is so worried about missing it becomes self-perpetuating which is why we see more instinctive goals from him than considered or planned ones - if he has time to think "don't miss" then he does.

I thought last season Maupay scored a couple of cracking goals and the thing that struck me about them is that they were both no look, instinctive shots (one was an overhead kick IIRC). When he doesn't overthink it, he has an instinct for goal. But when he has more of a look at goal before shooting it seems like he gets in his own head and ends up overdoing it. He needs Jedi training. He needs to turn off his targeting computer.

 

[chaileyjem]

I thought last season Maupay scored a couple of cracking goals and the thing that struck me about them is that they were both no look, instinctive shots (one was an overhead kick IIRC). When he doesn't overthink it, he has an instinct for goal. But when he has more of a look at goal before shooting it seems like he gets in his own head and ends up overdoing it. He needs Jedi training. He needs to turn off his targeting computer.

The goals v Watford H and Brentford H and Palace (A) were all terrific and all with a fair look at goal though ….

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Thanks for all you've shared on this thread - really interesting to read. Totally agree on Mourinho, at first he came across as self-aware and even gently self-mocking at times but increasingly seemed bitter and disinterested. Sad is definitely the word.

Cheers!

I have to work extremely hard to understand some people, specifically those who tend to represent a fake (or, let's be generous) modified version of themselves, and those who are on a game-playing mission to deceive. Because I'm 'on the spectrum' I initially take everything I see or am told on first value (until I'm proven in error, then I literally put the person on ignore because there can be no productive interaction, and nothing but distress for myself). With people who are open and honest I can have very productive interactions, and there are many people I know for whom I have the greatest regard, and would describe as dear friends (they may not even know it, either).

This of course means I think about people's motives, and how they obtain their goals perhaps more than others do, albeit not with any particular skills.

Potter is intriguing. His football career was insufficient to propel him into a decent job after his career. Solution? Something bespoke - start at the bottom and supplement with specialist training in an extra skill set.

That took a huge amount of courage and commitment. I have huge admiration for this. The opposite of fickle.

And then, when in the job, there is the whole process of managing. He needs to have a vision of what a successful team would look like. None of this trite 'it's all about winning' nonsense. It is all about process leading towards the achievement of a goal.

And after that he has to select the people. He will have a range of different criteria, desirable traits and red lines (we are all different after all) for players and other staff.

Meanwhile he will need to have strategies to deal with his own issues, the ones that can befall us to differing degrees: self-doubt, overconfidence, being too emotional after a win or defeat, seeming to be indifferent whether we win or lose, over-explaining, under-explaining, wanting to be too matey with players, being too aloof, being too ambitious, being too comfortable, trying too hard, being complacent, etc.

As I type that I realise all the same things apply to me in my supervisor/teacher role. I find it incredibly rewarding but incredibly stressful. I have been able to cope with a team of no more than 5 in my lab, or I start to overstress. But....I also like a challenge.

Potter will inevitably leave us if he becomes conspicuously successful. It would be wrong to not do so. We are on a nice run at the moment. We all think it will soon end with horrible defeats. But what if it doesn't? Another top ten finish this season, and next, done in style with unheralded players coached to a new level.....

Let's hope the succession planning is already in place, I suspect it is.

What a time to be a Brighton supporter, eh?

 

[Happy Exile]

Thank you for this a decent read and goes to show how deep EI can go.

Out of interest, are there any observations for managing players who have come back from long term / serious injury (I’m thinking March & Lamptey as examples) and the theory of getting them to believe in themselves again whilst omitting the fear of further injury all be it subconsciously?

Thanks


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Great question. So I don't know how the club does it but I would think this is where it's all the more important the manager recognises players as being more than their job. If someone's value and self-worth is tied up in playing and performing then injury will be a major setback that'll give their confidence a hit and create that fear of not wanting to go back to that place through being injured again. If they've got other roles in the team though - formal or informal - they're still adding value even with the frustration of not playing so their self-esteem, sense of worth etc stays high, as does their connection to their teammates. It won't completely resolve it but fear of injury will come from more than just being hurt or not being able to play, and as many of those fears as possible that can be catered for will help. This might sound relatively trite to some but even talking about it before it happens can help prevent catastrophising about something: getting a player to talk through what worries them when they play and doing a rationalisation exercise can help with confidence. I know of an international hockey player who did this as a why/because exercise (I'm scared I'll get injured...why? Because then I can't play...why? Because...) and regularly reminded himself that if he didn't commit in a way that might get himself injured he wouldn't be picked for the team anyway, and all the times he'd been injured before he'd come back again.

Again, I'm guessing, but I would imagine Potter's done some work around people's personal values and motivations too - Lamptey seems to be motivated by a strong social conscience. Making opportunities and space to turn up that part of his role at the club when he's injured means the work he's doing is still rewarding for him and he'll value that he's able to do work that satisfies that part of his drive. Being valued, being recognised as more than what you do for a living, is all part of that confidence and trust building so when Potter and the physio say you're ready, you know you're ready. (See Welbeck celebrating every goal with someone who appears to be a physio for example - so much trust and value.) Every player will have something - their "why" that is more than playing football, and if Potter and the club can provide an outlet for that they are onto a winner, especially when a player is injured.

There's some quite good stuff around reframing setback and failure too as just being a deviation from the path, not a change of direction. Pull a hamstring and it doesn't mean you're not a great footballer anymore, you just adapt your training and take a longer route but the destination is still the same. The idea is it takes the sting out of an event by seeing it as bump required a detour rather than block requiring a u-turn.

I know I've slagged off Mourinho's approach but he paraphrased Nelson Mandela and said you never lose, you win or you learn - that's a very Potter-esque approach to setback too.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I thought last season Maupay scored a couple of cracking goals and the thing that struck me about them is that they were both no look, instinctive shots (one was an overhead kick IIRC). When he doesn't overthink it, he has an instinct for goal. But when he has more of a look at goal before shooting it seems like he gets in his own head and ends up overdoing it. He needs Jedi training. He needs to turn off his targeting computer.

Robbie Keane. Sublime instinctive striker (remember that one against us in the FA cup at WHL, when Carpenter scored a free kick I think?). Give him time to think and he buggered it up. If any of his many coaches had the sense to mind train him into Jedi he'd have been an insanely successful footballer, instead of one that was sold on every few months.

 

[Happy Exile]

<<SNIP>>

Meanwhile he will need to have strategies to deal with his own issues, the ones that can befall us to differing degrees: self-doubt, overconfidence, being too emotional after a win or defeat, seeming to be indifferent whether we win or lose, over-explaining, under-explaining, wanting to be too matey with players, being too aloof, being too ambitious, being too comfortable, trying too hard, being complacent, etc.

<<SNIP>>

This is a fantastic point that shouldn't be overlooked. He'll have someone who he turns to and vents and bounces ideas off, I don't know who that person is but they will be a big part of Potter's success, and therefore the club's. He'd go mad without whoever that person is - it might be as simple as the club psychologist or a therapist but I'd bet he does a couple of hours a week with someone just speaking and being heard without having to filter it or have it interpreted or taken as anything other than thinking out loud.

 

[Jim in the West]

Thank you everyone - sat down with my lunchtime sarnie, opened up NSC for a quick check on the latest crazy Daily Mail induced transfer rumour.....and found THIS thread. Absolute Gold (if we still do that sort of thing). Need to go back and read everything again later when I have more time!

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

Great question. So I don't know how the club does it but I would think this is where it's all the more important the manager recognises players as being more than their job. If someone's value and self-worth is tied up in playing and performing then injury will be a major setback that'll give their confidence a hit and create that fear of not wanting to go back to that place through being injured again. If they've got other roles in the team though - formal or informal - they're still adding value even with the frustration of not playing so their self-esteem, sense of worth etc stays high, as does their connection to their teammates. It won't completely resolve it but fear of injury will come from more than just being hurt or not being able to play, and as many of those fears as possible that can be catered for will help. This might sound relatively trite to some but even talking about it before it happens can help prevent catastrophising about something: getting a player to talk through what worries them when they play and doing a rationalisation exercise can help with confidence. I know of an international hockey player who did this as a why/because exercise (I'm scared I'll get injured...why? Because then I can't play...why? Because...) and regularly reminded himself that if he didn't commit in a way that might get himself injured he wouldn't be picked for the team anyway, and all the times he'd been injured before he'd come back again.

Again, I'm guessing, but I would imagine Potter's done some work around people's personal values and motivations too - Lamptey seems to be motivated by a strong social conscience. Making opportunities and space to turn up that part of his role at the club when he's injured means the work he's doing is still rewarding for him and he'll value that he's able to do work that satisfies that part of his drive. Being valued, being recognised as more than what you do for a living, is all part of that confidence and trust building so when Potter and the physio say you're ready, you know you're ready. (See Welbeck celebrating every goal with someone who appears to be a physio for example - so much trust and value.) Every player will have something - their "why" that is more than playing football, and if Potter and the club can provide an outlet for that they are onto a winner, especially when a player is injured.

There's some quite good stuff around reframing setback and failure too as just being a deviation from the path, not a change of direction. Pull a hamstring and it doesn't mean you're not a great footballer anymore, you just adapt your training and take a longer route but the destination is still the same. The idea is it takes the sting out of an event by seeing it as bump required a detour rather than block requiring a u-turn.

I know I've slagged off Mourinho's approach but he paraphrased Nelson Mandela and said you never lose, you win or you learn - that's a very Potter-esque approach to setback too.

Thanks for taking the time to respond, interesting !


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[US Seagull]

Kinda related to the injury question, I do wonder how we handle keeping in touch with loanees and making sure they feel connected back to the club and not forgotten. I'm guess GP is probably very busy and so can't exactly check in with every loan player all that often, but I wonder if there's somebody at the club with that specific duty to talk to our loan players, make sure they are settled in and reasonably happy and let them know we haven't forgotten them.

I could imagine some clubs, especially back in the day, would exile players on loan and have very little contact until the loan was over. I'd hope that rarely happens nowadays.

 

[Smirko]

Kinda related to the injury question, I do wonder how we handle keeping in touch with loanees and making sure they feel connected back to the club and not forgotten. I'm guess GP is probably very busy and so can't exactly check in with every loan player all that often, but I wonder if there's somebody at the club with that specific duty to talk to our loan players, make sure they are settled in and reasonably happy and let them know we haven't forgotten them.

I could imagine some clubs, especially back in the day, would exile players on loan and have very little contact until the loan was over. I'd hope that rarely happens nowadays.

If only we had a loans manager who fulfills this role.....

 

[bristo]

Thank you very much for this excellent thread everyone.
Particularly you, Happy Exile, because this comment; ‘This might sound relatively trite to some but even talking about it before it happens can help prevent catastrophising about something’ was worth the read alone for me. Something I will be using I suspect.
Truly NSC at its best because you won’t see this sort of discussion on many fan’s forums. (If only because they haven’t got GP as manager).
Thanks again.