During the recent 2011 Champions League semi final and the Copa Del Rey 2011 final, we saw two of the top teams in the world in Real Madrid and Barcelona come together in what was an intriguing matchup. Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona were set out for all attack; Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid were set up to defend and counter attack.
Undoubtedly, these two teams and managers are great in their own right, but what was clear was that each team had a Plan A, and no Plan B. And the lack of a Plan B cost each team during the different competitions. In a football match, nothing is ever certain but I can’t help but feel that, had Barcelona been able to change tactics, and ‘mix it up a little’ in the Copa Del Rey Final, they may have been able to find a way to break down a dogged Real Madrid defence that was specifically set up to stop them from playing their game. As we all know they went on to lose to a counter attack.
In the Champions League semi final, Barcelona again played the only way they know how and this time they were successful, but you do need to question whether Barcelona would have scored those two goals had Real Madrid not had a player sent off. Up until the sending off Real Madrid’s tactics, albeit negative football tactics, again appeared to have been working. However, when they had their player sent off, Real Madrid needed the ability to change their tactics but they were unable to. The initial team selection and tactics meant they were unable to change their game plan and subsequently ended up losing.
Admittedly, you would assume that any team playing with one player less than Barcelona, would lose, but I still feel that they could have come away from that game with something had they changed their tactics and tried to threaten the Barcelona defence more.
I am also convinced that had it been Manchester United in either game, Sir Alex would have had a Plan B which would have enabled them to better address the circumstances. They have the players to play it on the ground, play it direct, down the centre and down the wings. Sir Alex has also never been afraid to drastically change tactics and to go for all out attack, and it is this ability to be adaptable and to have a Plan B, which has enabled Manchester United to continually challenge for, and win, trophies in what is without doubt the most competitive league in the world.
And whilst the impact of not having a plan B is most visible on a football pitch, businesses can learn much from the above. Put simply, every business regardless of stage, industry or size needs to have a Plan B for when things do not go as planned. For example, you need to know, in advance, what your options are if your sales do not go according to plan, if your business suffers a downturn, or if it suffers some other major setback. You should also be aware of the impact or likely benefit of choosing an alternative path so that you can make the right decision at the right time. Finally, changing track is not always an easy choice; but if you have done your homework correctly, and done everything to ensure that it is the right decision to make, you should have the strength and courage to make that change.
Failing to have a Plan B may mean losing a match in football, but for a business it could be fatal. So, ensure you reduce the risk to your business by considering your Plan B.
