Lessons in Inclusive Leadership from the World of Sports
Take Arsène Wenger, the French coach who transformed Arsenal FC. Wenger wasn’t about miracles but maximizing team potential. As Arsenal’s first non-English manager, he redefined norms by recruiting players from diverse backgrounds and implementing innovative practices like dietary changes and recovery routines. Wenger reshaped what it meant to lead inclusively in football, building a more competitive and cohesive team in the process.
Inclusive leadership, as sports show us, requires four critical shifts: moving from compliance to personalized solutions, reactive to proactive efforts, outcome-driven to process-focused approaches, and intentions to measurable impact. Here’s what we can learn.
1. From Compliance to Personalized Solutions
Inclusion isn’t about ticking boxes—it’s about addressing unique needs. Compliance might look good on paper, but real inclusion comes from breaking structural barriers. Feyenoord’s youth academy in the Netherlands exemplifies this shift. Rather than just meeting quotas, the club supports kids from disadvantaged neighborhoods by addressing their specific challenges. This approach has nurtured world-class talent while creating opportunities for those typically excluded.
Ask yourself: What does each person on your team need to succeed? How can you design systems that help them thrive?
2. From Reactive to Proactive Efforts
Proactive leadership prevents harm before it happens. Too often, inclusion efforts emerge only after a crisis, like the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup incident where Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales kissed player Jenni Hermoso without her consent. The delayed response reflected a reactive mindset that undermines trust.
Contrast this with Norway’s Football Association, which, in 2017, ensured equal pay for its men’s and women’s national teams—not as a reaction, but as a deliberate move to address inequities. This proactive decision set a global standard for gender equity in sports.
Ask yourself: What steps can I take today – and everyday - to create a more inclusive future?
3. From Outcome-Driven to Process-Focused Approaches
Winning matters, but focusing only on results risks ignoring the people behind them. Inclusive leaders prioritize the process, ensuring systems empower everyone.
FC Barcelona’s La Masia academy illustrates this. Known for producing legends like Lionel Messi, the academy focuses on teaching a shared style of play that emphasizes teamwork, creativity, and responsibility. This process-driven approach has built a lasting culture of excellence.
Ask yourself: How can I balance what I achieve with how I achieve it?
4. From Intentions to Measurable Impact
Good intentions are just the start. Without measurable outcomes, they risk becoming empty gestures. UEFA’s #Respect campaign, for example, has faced criticism for lacking accountability.
In contrast, the Premier League’s No Room for Racism campaign tracks progress with diversity training, grassroots funding, and annual metrics. This ensures meaningful change.
Ask yourself: What are we actually changing?
The Takeaway
Sports show us that inclusive leadership is a journey, not a destination. It’s about progress, not perfection. Leaders who adapt, grow, and prioritize inclusivity build stronger, more cohesive teams. So, where can you make these shifts? Start today—stay curious, accountable, and committed to inclusion.
For more information, see our websites on both Leading Inclusively in the Digital Age (next session 19. January) and Sports Leadership (next session 12./13. February) open certificate programs (also available as customized for your organization):
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