The Bielsa Way: Leadership at Leeds United with Mark Pease, Pastor & Lifelong Leeds Supporter

In Episode 11, Mark Pease, Pastor of Hope Church in Bradford, England, and lifelong supporter of Leeds United, talks with Phil about the leadership lessons that we can all learn from Marco Bielsa, Leeds United's Manager, as he leads a team, shapes the culture of a club, and impacts an entire city. Specifically, Mark discusses:

• His story and how football, Leeds United, and leadership have always been a big part of his life (2:20)
• The history of Leeds United, and the contrast of Leeds United over the past few decades and the club under the leadership of Marco Bielsa (6:28)
• The importance of humility in leadership and how Bielsa models it (11:55)
• How Bielsa has shown at Leeds that a leader can completely transform an organization (16:11)
• How Bielsa has shaped the culture and identity of Leeds United (and has created a freedom within structure) during his short tenure (20:37)
• How Mark has incorporated what he is learning from Bielsa into his own leadership of various organizations (25:55)
• How to get your team and supporters to buy into your culture, mission, and vision, and how Bielsa has done this at Leeds (32:13)
• The importance of hiring the right people to surround you on your leadership team, and what that looks like at Leeds (39:19)
• Why it is critical for leaders to build trust, how leaders can build the trust of their team members, and the amazing things that happen when that trust is built (43:01)
• How Bielsa inspires his team and club, and what we can learn from his style (46:10)
• The importance of a leader preparing the organization for his or her departure (54:16)
• How great leaders can incorporate the good from their predecessor leader and still make the organization their own (1:01:20)
• How Mark incorporates what he has learned from soccer in his marriage, parenting, and other areas of life (1:03:50)
• What Mark has been reading and watching to help his leadership (1:09:03)

Resources and Links from this Episode

• Video of the Episode --https://youtu.be/Ydo8Az2xF_w
• Hope Church website -- https://myhopechurch.online
• Take Us Home: Leeds United (Amazon Prime)
• The Damned United (film about Brian Clough)