How many times have you sat in a windowless room and searched for inspiration before your next leadership retreat. What about… lessons from geese? You’ve done it! What is the straw and marshmallow building game? Have you played this game?
James Graham’s 2023 stage production, about Gareth Southgate and the transformation of England’s men’s soccer team, was brought to the stage. I had the privilege of getting tickets to Hello England, and was completely captivated by the play. I’d talk enthusiastically about it in my leadership sessions, but few people outside London or with an interest football had seen it.
A play about culture and leadership
The play has undergone a major rewrite, with new characters added. Sir Gareth is no longer with the England team. This new version will be recorded on National Theatre Live and toured across the country to reach a larger audience.
Hello England has culture at its core. Southgate was appointed manager after a series of poor performances. He inherited a toxic environment. Many leaders will recognize the challenge he faced: How do you change a system that has deeply ingrained behaviors and keep your people onside?
Southgate started with trust, not tactics.
Here are three things to think about when creating discussion points for your next Leadership Workshop.
1. The importance of psychological safety
Southgate invites psychologist Pippa Grrange to assist with training sessions. She transforms the dressing room to a place in which players can speak freely about pressure, failure or past penalty shootout trauma without fear of being humiliated.
Fear of failure is a major factor in many organizations. It leads to ego protection, compliance, and poor performance. England’s players were encouraged by their coaches to face and overcome their fears. What was the result? The result? A team that is more adaptable, resilient and cohesive.
Reflective Question:Does the team feel comfortable enough to speak out?
His vulnerability is a sign of leadership, a willingness to admit that he has also stumbled.
2. Credibility is built on vulnerability
Southgate’s missed penalty happened as I was sitting in the Euro 96 crowd with my head buried in my hands. Southgate reveals that moment in a play. It brought me back to the time. Southgate’s vulnerability is an act a leadership, a willingness for him to admit that he has also stumbled.
Leaders who insist they have the answers quickly lose their credibility in today’s workplace. Dear England reminds us that when we own our mistakes, it gives others the permission to learn from them, innovate and try again.
Reflective Question: When did you last acknowledge that you were wrong?
3. Values above victories
Southgate wants his team to rediscover the meaning of playing for England, not just for glory but also for connection, identity, and meaning. When we speak of purpose, we are referring to this. Performance follows when our people know what’s expected of them, believe that it is the right thing to do, and feel it is important.
Reflective Question What’s the deeper “why?” behind your team’s efforts?
Dear England reminds us that leadership is not just strategy, but also a story.
Storytelling is more important than strategy
Theatre in leadership development has been around for a long time. Dear England reminds us that leadership is not just strategy, but also a story. The relaunch Dear England presents an opportunity for leadership trainers and HR professional.
Consider showing Dear England at your next leadership retreat. You can then have reflection sessions about the themes of the play. This could be the unexpected coaching your team needed.
