Lessons in leadership, team-building, and resilience from Sarina Wiegman and the Lionesses

Like much of the football-watching nation, my nerves have been shot to pieces over the past few weeks. The last three Lionesses matches were emotional whiplash. My poor dogs—who I’ve tried not to terrify with screams of frustration and joy—will be delighted that the Euros are finally over.

For the past three international tournaments, those of us not irrationally triggered by women’s football have been watching a masterclass in leadership, team effectiveness, and resilience. Sarina Wiegman has now led five teams to five major finals—a record no other coach in football, male or female, can claim.

And while the impact of her strategy on our collective blood pressure isn’t something I’d recommend deploying on your staff, clients, or stakeholders, the leadership lessons she and the Lionesses offer are solid gold.

Creating psychological safety

“I ask the players and the staff, ‘You can be honest.’ It doesn’t mean that you’re rude. Just be direct.”— Sarina Wiegman

It’s not a generalisation to say the Dutch are direct. They even have a word for it: 'bespreekbaarheid', which literally translates to ‘speakability’—the belief that everything can and should be talked about. This philosophy feels foundational to the culture created by Wiegman. When people feel safe to speak up, challenge, or fail, performance and innovation thrive.

“From the moment I first spoke to Sarina, I felt a deep sense of respect and comfort…”— Leah Williamson

Wiegman’s openness contrasts sharply with leadership failures in other sectors. The Boeing 737 Max and NASA shuttle disasters are powerful examples of what happens when psychological safety is lacking.

At Boeing, employees feared speaking up about critical safety flaws, leading to two crashes and 346 deaths. Similarly, at NASA, engineers raised concerns about technical risks but felt ignored by leadership, resulting in the loss of 14 astronauts. In both cases, the absence of open dialogue led to tragedy, huge reputational damage, and long-term organisational fallout.

“We don’t give a s--- if you make mistakes. Just play. You are good enough.”— Sarina Wiegman, at half-time, Euro 2025 Quarter Final

Creating a space where people feel safe to fail—within a culture of accountability—unlocks adaptability and creativity. In any team or organisation, that’s when you're creating space for magic to happen.

Turning individual talent into a cohesive team

While Wiegman is a strategic and tactical mastermind, it’s her emotional intelligence that truly sets her apart. She hasn’t just managed a squad—she’s taken time to understand and cultivate each player.

“I was made to feel I belonged again. Sarina took time to speak to me one-on-one and made it clear she saw my potential.”— Mary Earps

Lucy Bronze has said Wiegman “knows how to get the best out of everyone individually while building a collective sense of mission.” And Leah Williamson described how she “wanted to know who we were, not just what we could do on the pitch.”

This leadership approach creates teams where people are aligned, motivated, and trusted. That doesn’t just happen—it’s built, conversation by conversation.

Resilience: built brick by brick

Resilience is a muscle the Lionesses have built up under Sarina Wiegman’s leadership. Losing in a World Cup Final is undoubtedly devastating, but coming through adversity can help all of us face the future with a little less fear and more determination.

In match after match this tournament, they went behind. And in match after match, they came back—because the environment Wiegman created allowed them to not dwell on failure, but reset and respond in the unwavering belief that they could turn their situation around.

“We never lost belief in ourselves. There was a lot of noise on the outside but we stuck together … We’ve always shown resilience and fight.”— Lucy Bronze

In addition to psychological safety and a cohesive team, what are the key ways to build resilience?

Clarity of purpose - Wiegman drilled home shared goals and a strong game plan. Everyone knew where they were heading—even when the game went off-script.

Visible belief - She didn’t just select a team—she invested in every player. Wiegman built personal relationships and showed faith in each individual. That belief became contagious.

“You hope that you create an environment where everybody is ready… when it’s their time, they can step up.”— Leah Williamson

Collective responsibility - When one player falters, others step in. That’s not accidental—it’s a culture. Resilience wasn’t an individual effort. It was a shared mindset of accountability and support.

Every role matters - The starting eleven or senior players were not superior to the substitutes. Michelle Agyemang, just 19, came off the bench and saved the tournament. Chloe Kelly's interventions were central to their strategy and wins.

“That togetherness and fighting back … not playing well and sticking together. That shows so much resilience.”— Sarina Wiegman

Bronze, who played the entire tournament with a fractured tibia, embodied what it means to show up—for your team, your mission, and your leader. Extreme as her choices were, she will have inspired her colleagues to do the same.

This wasn’t accidental resilience. It was designed. It was modelled. It was coached.

And it worked. Congratulations to the Lionesses on another amazing win. We are all proud of you.

It's home.

Again.

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Looking to make your leaders more effective? Get in touch with Tigris Consulting and Mediation for expert guidance on how to take your leadership skills to the next level, work more effectively as a senior team and build conflict-resilient organisations. Visit Coaching & Leadership Development or email us here.

About the author

Rakhee Verma is a seasoned leader in sales, business development, marketing, and strategic communication, with over 15 years of leadership experience across the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors—including within PwC and the United Nations

Rakhee has cultivated and managed high-value strategic relationships with FTSE 100 and Fortune 500 companies and is frequently engaged for interim board-level assignments, where she leads transformative turnaround strategies and drives sustainable growth.

She is also a trusted business mentor and leadership coach, supporting senior executives to unlock their potential and navigate complexity with clarity and confidence.

An accredited mediator through CEDR, Rakhee brings a wealth of expertise in conflict resolution and negotiation. She has successfully coached leaders to enhance their communication, resolve challenges, and strengthen team cohesion.

Proficient in multiple languages and deeply attuned to diverse cultural contexts, Rakhee brings a truly global mindset and inclusive leadership style to every engagement.

Her culturally intelligent approach fosters authentic connection, drives strategic alignment, and delivers lasting impact across borders and sectors​.

Connect with Rakhee on LinkedIn. Click here.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash