Klinsmann Proves His Leadership Style is Working

On 6/25/2014, TRACOM’s Performance Blog post analyzed Jurgen Klinsmann’s leadership and coaching tactics. The article argued Why Jurgen Klinsmann Has Proven to be a Motivational Leader, despite criticisms for comments made in December which emphasized Klinsmann’s lack of confidence in the US winning the World Cup. Although many disagreed with Klinsmann’s approach to the tournament, there was a clear strategy behind the words he spoke. This blog serves as an update on the continued analysis of Klinsmann’s leadership tactics as the US advances to the next round of the World Cup. To read the original blog click here.

As USA advances out of the “Group of Death” — a feat many thought impossible to accomplish, Jurgen Klinsmann’s ability to lead and motivate is even more apparent than ever before. He is now being acknowledged for creating the best team in the history of US Soccer.

The US finished second in Group G and is set to play Belgium, the winners of Group H tomorrow, July 1st. During his media briefing Friday at Sao Paulo FC’s training grounds Klinsmann said “we have absolutely no fear at all. We feel like we are in a position now to challenge it. We believe we have built a foundation in our team that we are able to beat them.”

Klinsmann has encouraged his players to take pride in their accomplishments but to also focus on the challenges afoot. “Don’t be content,” he said. “This is what you work so long and so hard for. Make it happen. Is it doable? Absolutely. We got out of this group. Now anything is doable.”

He has continued to exude confidence in his team by telling the players’ families to change their flights. Omar Gonzalez stated “Jurgen has been nothing but ­positive. He’s telling us, he’s telling our families to change our flights to July 14th, 15th, as we’re going to be here until the very end…”

“That just speaks volumes for how positive he is, how much he believes in this team. Obviously it trickles down to all of us… That means we’re all as confident as he is, and we all believe in this team. We plan on being here a few more weeks.”

While in the Group stage of the tournament, Klinsmann set his team’s sights on focusing on the task at hand. He did not put the weight of the world on them, but instead focused their efforts on advancing to the next round. Now that they have accomplished this task, the team has been repeating what was Klinsmann’s mantra from the start – in the knockout stage, anything is possible.

“It’s a mental moment,” he said. “If you are not prepared for that mental moment to walk from the halfway line in front of 60,000 to the penalty spot and get the job done, then it’s wrong. We coaches have to walk them through that process, and hopefully they are prepared to put it in their favorite corner or wherever that is.”

Read the original blog “Why Jurgen Klinsmann Has Proven to be a Motivational Leader” to learn why Klinsmann’s coaching style is being credited for US’s success thus far.

Image Credit: Ureinwohner