Also known as Rosenborg Balk, Rosenborg BK is one of the most successful franchises in Norwegian soccer. The professional football club was founded in 1917 but was only allowed to play league matches in 1928. Initially, the club received criticism and was repeatedly denied access, after which several players began leaving the club and in 1923, the team played only one match.
However, as the years went by, the management of the club underwent a seismic shift and the club started dominating the Norwegian league. In fact, from 1992 to 2004, Rosenborg won 13 seasons in a row. The club also qualified for the UEFA Champions League, the world’s greatest club competition. At that time, the demand for talented football players was high as they could increase clubs’ chances of winning titles. Hence, the richest football clubs in Europe used to fritter away the grandest amounts of money to round up the best football players. Rosenborg, however, managed to stay in the competition with a team consisting exclusively of regional players. Perhaps, the club’s greatest accomplishments include its victory against Spain (2-0 vs. Real Madrid in 1997), England (2-1 vs. Blackburn in 1995) and Italy (2-1 vs. AC Milan in 1996).
There is a range of factors that contributed to the club’s successful performances. Mediocre players, for example, might have spent a lot of time on the bench and become professionals in the game by watching. However, the hard work and positive mindset of the club were recognized due to Nils Arne Eggen’s secret weapon: The Best Foot Theory!
The Best Foot Theory
In sport, especially football, passion, practice and hard work are critical for improvement and success. But, what is the secret behind Rosenborg BK’s reign? How did the club suddenly manage to outplay all Norwegian teams and find success in football?
The answer lies in the “Best Foot Theory.” It is a philosophy that urges every person to play on their absolute strengths and improve their individual core skills through collaboration and unity. The theory is based on the principle that each team player should be put in the best position so that they can do their job perfectly and lead the team to victory. This theory acknowledges that all skills are complementary and in order to be good at something, one requires teamwork and unity, not just individual achievement. The key is to communicate effectively and let every player exploit this opportunity to find their unique expertise.
This theory played a critical role in helping Rosenborg BK win 20 league titles. However, experts believe that this philosophy can also be applied to several industries like the construction sector.
The Best Foot Theory in the Construction Context
Although it was designed to bring football players closer to each other, injecting the feeling of fraternity and loyalty among teammates, the Best Foot Theory is not limited to the sports industry. The truth is, today teamwork is more important than ever. Several studies, for instance, have shown that promoting teamwork and collaboration in the workplace can have positive impacts on productivity, creativity, workplace culture and quality of work. Through teamwork, the company can achieve far more than when all individuals were working alone. This also applies to the construction industry.
In construction, effective teamwork is one of the most crucial factors for the success of every project. The collaboration of highly qualified individuals from different fields of expertise –like engineers, investors, architects, laborers and carpenters – is key on construction sites. Since teamwork is a core skill that the construction industry needs, the basic principles of the Best Foot Theory can be used in the construction industry to build strong employee relationships.
A continuation of this article will be provided in part 2!