Body language speaks volumes.

So Fatima and Mucurapo end their game yesterday at 2-2 and it’s therefore on to penalty kicks.  (no extra time, they go straight to penalty kicks)  The Fatima Bench is standing, locked arm in arm, willing their players to score, when their turn comes.  The Mucurapo bench are all seated spaces between them, some slouched as if they are at the beach.

I thought that this reflected the difference between these two teams.  Not much separating them in terms of skills and talent but a lot separating them in terms of attitude and passion.  And that’s the million dollar mystery that companies must solve.  How do we inspire passion in our people.  I believe to achieve this we must answer the question: What’s in it for our people?

For Fatima it was the pride in being part of the yellow and blue tribe and all that stands for.  We must also acknowledge that Fatima has many times more resources than Mucurapo.  So while the penalty kicks decided the champions, both schools won.