Now the football season reaches half way, focus on managers seems to intensify. Jose Mourinho has already left Chelsea, some maybe surprised, some not so. As leaders we observe football management and may congratulate ourselves on not being in such a high profile cut throat business. So are there lessons we can learn for the commercial world?

As in sport, any leadership position you hold you will be primarily judged on results; you are only as good as your last team performance. When things are going well, analysts will comment on your people skills, your strategic mind or your opportunist vision however when results decline, any chink in any facet of leadership may quickly become exposed.

Often in football the fans are the first to vocalise their displeasure. So too in business, when customers become vocal you had better listen and review your short to medium term plan and be proactive in answering their questions.

Additionally when the team itself also start to doubt, you better do something about it quickly, otherwise derision can quickly lead to division.

Managers in any field who ignore the above points and carry on regardless during bad performance, may give the impression they have run out of answers which will be scrutinised by the executives who could then feel it is a time for a clean out!