The Art of Winning: Lessons from Manchester City’s 100-Year Record
In sports, much like in business, it takes more than one person to win.
Manchester City is a prime example of winning in football, having won the English Premier League four times in a row. Since 1926, five teams have attempted this feat, but none have succeeded.
I recently watched an interview with Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, where he shared his experiences of leading the team.
Throughout the interview, I observed a person with a winning mentality.
If you’re running an organization—whether it’s a club, a business, or a nonprofit—you need people to win.
Winning keeps everyone motivated and committed to the organization’s mission, attracts more talented individuals to your team, weeds out negative influences (turning them into critics), and brings you closer to your full potential.
So, what does it take to have a winning organization?
Read on.
Everyone Knows the Organization’s Goal
At Manchester City, everyone in the organization—from the chairman and the board of directors to the coaches, physios, players, chefs, and kitmen—knows the goal: to win all the trophies by the end of the season.
There are around five to six trophies the team must compete for throughout the season, and everyone understands that their mission is to win each one.
What is the goal of your organization?
A goal pushes everyone forward, driving them to go beyond their comfort zone and fight for something larger than themselves.
The importance of a goal is that it represents something you aim to accomplish, not something you are doing right now.
A goal is different from a to-do list. With a to-do list, you come in, do something, complete it, and go home. A goal, on the other hand, is the future target you strive for, not the tasks you’re doing.
If you ask someone in your organization, “What are we, as an organization, trying to accomplish right now?” you might receive a blank stare. They likely know their personal goals, challenges, and problems, but may not know the organization’s goals.
In sports, it’s easy to identify the organization’s goal: the trophy. But in business, this is not as clear.
Is it a sales target?
Building a community of a specific size?
Reducing costs by a certain percentage?
Achieving a product-market fit with a specific number of sign-ups?
What is the “TROPHY” your entire organization is striving to accomplish this year?
A goal unifies everyone’s focus, ensuring that they are all moving in the same direction.
A goal separates a winning organization from a losing one.
Always Planning for Losses
A winning team never forgets to plan for losses.
They understand that there will be times when they slip, fall, make mistakes, and are defeated by other teams.
Handling these moments is crucial.
It’s essential to know exactly how to respond once your team starts losing a game.
A winning team knows that the moment you win, you become the prime target for competition.
Other teams now have a clear goal: to beat you.
As an organization, what is your plan after a loss, mistake, or failure? Your response as a leader matters.
A wrong response can cost you money, career, reputation, and even your business.
When you lose the desire to win, there are always people ready to take it away from you.
During moments of challenge, especially when facing your first loss, keep your head high but stay humble.
Show respect but never lose the fire.
Evaluate yourself and your performance based on facts and key metrics, not on blame and criticism.
Improve your weakest link day by day and continue to fight for tomorrow.
Starting Early with The Youth Team
A winning team knows how important it is to instill a winning mindset in their youth members - the academy.
This way, when they reach higher levels, they understand exactly what it takes to win.
Players like Phil Foden have grown into superstars, showing the importance of patience, hard work, and perseverance.
Young talent may not realize how hard it is to win and keep winning. Therefore, they need to learn about hardship, challenges, and obstacles, which help build their endurance and mental toughness when competition gets harder at the higher level.
Young talents need to know that hard work beats talent and that winning isn’t as easy as simply just being talented.
Practice Makes Winning Perfect
Practice, practice, and practice.
Manchester City’s head coach, Pep Guardiola, used to say, “If you practice well, you will play well.” Practice is the basis for the result. The performance you put into practice determines the outcome of your game.
Winning is much more fulfilling when you earn it, rather than relying on luck.
A winning team prioritizes practice.
At Manchester City, many players often stay late to put in extra work—shooting, crossing, free kicks, etc.—after everyone else has gone home.
A winning team consists of players who give their best even when they’re tired. These players are the final spark of fire that pushes the team through hard times.
Find these players, and they will inspire everyone to stay on their feet.
The More You Win, the More People Expect from You
Once you start winning, everyone will demand more from you.
Success comes with higher expectations, so don’t be surprised by criticism if you slack off. Understand that winning raises the bar for future performance. Each victory brings new opportunities and greater demands.
Be the last person to stay and put in that extra work, that extra practice.
This commitment to continuous improvement and hard work is what sets winning teams apart.
A Relentless Desire for Improvement
A winning team never stops improving.
The desire for improvement means questioning what can be done, exploring possibilities, and finding ways to set themselves apart from competitors.
Everyone has weaknesses, and in sports, opponents can win by exploiting these weaknesses. A winning team ensures that their weakest link is at least better than their opponent’s strongest link.
The drive for continuous improvement is essential.