Los Galácticos: The Real Madrid Way
The values scripted on the walls of The Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid
In July 2024, I ventured to the vibrant city of Madrid on a delightful family trip, during which I also had the chance to reconnect with a friend who teaches in northern Spain. My friend had suggested that we meet in the famous city known as ‘The Bear and the Strawberry Tree’ for some exciting sightseeing adventures. Undeterred by the sweltering heat of Madrid’s summer, we set out to explore not only the captivating streets, but also all the other beautiful architecture the city has to offer. Eventually, we made our way to The Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, where we eagerly purchased tickets for its remarkable stadium tour. This impressive self-guided experience allowed us to delve into the rich history and organisational culture of the football club, as well as the intricacies of its successful business model.
The book "The Real Madrid Way: How Values Created the Most Successful Sports Team on the Planet" by Steven G. Mandis delves deeply into how Real Madrid's unique organisational culture and core values have played a crucial role in shaping their remarkable success. The book highlights the significant impact of Real Madrid's management team, which, consisting mostly of outsiders who brought fresh perspectives, was instrumental in transforming the club from the brink of bankruptcy to becoming the most valuable sports organisation in the world. This extraordinary transformation was driven by a strong and unwavering emphasis on essential values such as teamwork, excellence, and a winning mentality. In an organisational context, these foundational values can be effectively applied to foster a robust culture of high performance, resilience, and continuous improvement. By embedding such crucial values into the organisational culture, companies can not only drive employee engagement but also enhance overall performance and ultimately achieve long-term success.
“At Real Madrid, our culture is built on a foundation of ambition, teamwork, and relentless pursuit of greatness. We believe in nurturing talent and fostering a spirit of collaboration that drives us to achieve extraordinary success.”
Check out the first chapter of ‘The Real Madrid Way’ as an audio book here:
The Real Madrid Way: How Values Created the… by Steven G. Mandis · Audiobook preview - YouTube