From Leicester’s shock dismissal of manager Ranieri to Manchester United’s controversial hiring of Jose Mourinho, the football industry is no stranger to abrupt shifts in leadership. However, it seems the major football teams could have competition for the title of highest management turnover. According to reports, the number of retail chief executives leaving their positions has reached a 5-year peak! The question is: what impact does this upheaval in retail leadership have on the wider business?
The 2017/2018 football season has already seen a number of high profile management appointments. Inevitabley, with new leadership, comes new direction. While a new style of leadership can be an exciting moment for an organisation, this is not always the case. You only have to look at Birmingham City’s management track record to appreciate that change at the top is not always positive! Given the number of new appointments in retail, it is important that new retail leaders avoid the management pitfalls made by so many football clubs. With this in mind, what can new managerial recruits learn from other businesses with a track record of effective retail leadership?