24-07-2025
Be yourself, listen and give praise, including pats on your own back
The Lionesses' performance on the pitch at the Women's Euros may be grabbing the headlines but off the pitch, more women are moving into football management. As chief executive of Mansfield Town Football Club, Carolyn Radford is passionate about defending equality and fairness within the game. Here are her tips to build a winning team:
1. Avoid the 'Big I Am'. Never let power get to you. Take the time to talk to all staff; listen to new ideas and suggestions. It can be easy to think you know everything already.
2. Be yourself to get better results. You need to talk to all sorts of people with different personalities and putting on a work persona can make it more challenging. Be authentic.
3. Nobody owes you anything. You have to put in the work and the effort for success. If you want the best, set your own high standards, whatever industry. There's always someone who wants your job. Business is dog eat dog: use competition to drive yourself forwards.
4. Always be accessible. This is key to success; ensure that you're approachable and available to everyone.
5. Be grateful and give due praise. People would rather be around others who are positive, happy, self- reflective and progressive. People are more likely to comply and undertake what you ask, doing it well and with good grace if you're grateful and give due praise.
6. Be kind to yourself. You can spend a lot of time criticising yourself, especially women who still generally carry childcare and household burdens in addition to business. Give yourself a break and give yourself that pat on the back.
