Corinthians is one of the most famous Brazilian football teams (and by stating this, I instantaneously lost half of my Brazilian readership😉). It has a fan club of… 35 million people! To many, it is far more than a sports club, it refers to itself as “The Corinthian Nation” (an ideological movement in favour of democracy, from the days of the dictatorship).

Hugo Souza is a promising goalkeeper, whose young career had known highs and lows. He joined Corinthians on a loan from another club (the prestigious Flamengo where his career wouldn’t take off). Put yourself in his shoes when he lamentably failed, during one of his first games with Corinthians: “I have been deeply impacted by the game I failed against Vitoria… It has been a memorable lesson! We kicked-off and I committed a beginner’s mistake. And, because of me, we started one goal down. To my total surprise, the fans started to encourage me, by shouting my name… I stared at them in disbelief: How come? I failed them and the fans shout my name… This instantaneously boosted my self-confidence to the point that, by the end of the game when we were leading 2-1, I… saved the team by an extraordinary prowess, guaranteeing our success. The team particularly impressed me during the half time: We were still one down and I entered the locker room with my head down, when one of them turned towards me, saying “Bro”, what is this grim face? How many times did you save us before? This time it is our duty to save you: we will play this 2^nd half for you!” (free translation)

But what is the parallel between a football team and our business teams? I see two intertwined themes at work here:

Admitting temporary incompetence:

Football fans can do it, colleagues in the locker room do it also, so what prevents us from displaying a High level of Support to the companion being in a state of “Temporary Incompetence”? At that moment, will we push their head under the water or will we encourage them as did the Corinthians supporters and players?

Recently, in one of the professional professional clubs I closely follow in Europe, some of the best players had not scored since weeks… Rather than increasing his level of challenge and voice his discontentment, the coach chose to change the locker room’s culture so as to resemble Corinthians in the above mentioned example… The results are impressive and the team went from 3^rd to 1^st in their league, magic was back on the pitch and players who hadn’t scored in weeks brought the team to an incredible goal average. Why couldn’t we do the same in a business community?

Mind the others’ business as our duty:

“Mind your own business” makes sense when it seeks to avoid unnecessary and damaging criticism. If I were to mind your business with an attitude that means “I do it to save us from your incompetence”, indeed, the team will be better off if the leader orders me to mind my own business. But teams of partners, where players and co-workers constructively mind each other business, to respond to each other’s calls for help or moments of temporary incompetence is something very different.

In the Enablers Community, we do not have anyone “more equal than the others”. It is our collegiate duty to challenge and support each other in a constructive “Mind the others’” mode. When such a culture finally emerges, absolutely wonderful things happen, which allow such a wonderful “samba-epitaph” to be composed and sung… Let us enjoy a lively Leader’s Journey prior to think of our death 😉

“When I’ll die, I do not want any candle nor condolences around, but just a coffin in black & white decorated with the banner of my Corinthians, I ask you please to sing a cool samba with bells and percussions, cavaquinho and guitar, a lot of music, girls and fresh beer, please show for the kids the strength of our Nation (Corinthians supporter refer themselves as a nation) and do me a last favour, a sign which will read, “Here rests a champion!”