If you didn’t follow the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, you missed out on some great games. But you may have also missed out on some leadership decisions that you might find useful to reflect on in your own workplace. In particular, mid-game decisions about when and how to replace tried and tested players with the up-and-coming rising stars (of which there were many!).
Some young subs came on excited but awkward, fumbling the ball or mis-stepping for the first few minutes. Colombia’s 18-year-old forward Linda Caicedo (who had an incredible journey to the World Cup after surviving ovarian cancer, scoring the goal that secured the team’s entry into the World Cup and the 2024 Olympics, and collapsing on the field with severe chest pains during training) was instantly endearing when she responded to an offside call with visible embarrassment a minute or two after coming off the bench.
Spain’s 19-year-old winger Salma Paralluelo, a tall and gangly former sprinter and athletics champion, went from sub to starting player and worldwide sensation as her skills shone through, scoring in both the quarter-final and semi-final. She too stumbled over the ball and lost her footing in her first moments coming off the bench and looked aggrieved when the referee called her on a violation, but if her performance was based on those first few minutes of her play in each game, it’s fair to say that Spain would not have won the World Cup.
On the US Women’s National Team, 23-year-old striker Sophia Smith ended up starting more games than would be usual; the team’s go-to in that role over the last decade, Megan Rapinoe, was battling injuries and came on as a sub herself towards the end of games to reinvigorate the team with new energy. As the reigning (and youngest-ever) NWSL MVP, Sophia Smith was predicted to bring a lot to the team, and indeed it seemed like a fairy-tale moment when the must-win round of 16 game against Sweden came down to her to take the last penalty shot after extra time. For whatever reason, it was not meant to be, and her miss led to additional penalties and an eventual US loss, but it’s worth noting that upon her return to her NWSL team the Portland Thorns, she subbed in off the bench in the second half and scored the game-winning goal less than a minute later.
If you have younger, more inexperienced team members in your workplace, it can – understandably – be easy to assume that they have less to contribute and more to learn. But if you take on the mantle of a “student of…” rather than an “expert in…”, it’s likely that we all have a lot to learn. That doesn’t mean that new team members should be able to disregard all practices and procedures that have been in place for years, but it might mean they have a lot more to offer than seems obvious at first glance. If you’ve been in the work world a long time, though, you’ve probably seen times when someone newer has been able to deliver beyond expectations, and others where an unfair burden has been put on someone who really wasn’t ready for it. So how do you know when it’s appropriate to call in a rising star sub? And if your star is on the rise (or you think it should be), how do you advocate for yourself to receive opportunities that will support your growth rather than hinder it?
This Week’s Tips:
If you’re in a position to support “rising stars,” invite genuine contributions from the younger, less experienced members of your team. This might come when the more experienced members of your team appear to “need a sub” – they’re tired, tapped out, or otherwise unavailable – but these can also happen in low-pressure situations where there is freedom to try new things, freedom to be creative, and perhaps even freedom to fail (small failures can lead to larger success in the future)! You might find that by amplifying their voices you hear some things that bring new life to your team’s work. Give a lot of specific, positive feedback. Start small so you’re not overwhelming them, and decide how and when to increase their “time on the field.”
If you are a “rising star” – or feel you should be! – suggest (or ask for) specific ways you can take work off others’ plates by taking over some of their tasks for a specific timeframe (or work cycle). Offer to be a sub, and make sure you understand what you’re volunteering yourself for. If you don’t have the resources you need to succeed, ask for what you need. If you’re concerned you’re being set up to fail, talk to others you trust – it’s possible others see something in you that you don’t see in yourself.
Try these out this week, and let us know how it goes! We’d love to hear from you.
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