Well football teams are perhaps easier to control than political

Iain Duncan Smith, with a touch of humor and the weight of experience, once observed: “Well football teams are perhaps easier to control than political parties, I'm sure the Prime Minister would agree with me, but yeah I think every team needs discipline and a sense of self-belief and that's important, that's what leadership's all about.” These words, though spoken in jest, carry the gravity of an eternal truth: whether in the stadium or in the halls of power, leadership is born not from command alone but from the cultivation of discipline and the fire of self-belief within those who follow.

The ancients themselves would have seen the wisdom hidden here. For the legions of Rome, like the teams of today, were bound not merely by swords but by discipline—a rhythm of training and obedience that turned scattered men into a single living force. And just as Rome’s generals inspired their soldiers with confidence in their cause, so too must every leader breathe self-belief into those they guide. Without discipline, the strongest army is a mob; without belief, the finest team collapses at the first trial.

Smith’s comparison of the football team and the political party reveals the universal challenge of leadership. A football team has rules clear and visible, goals set before their eyes, and contests where victory is plain. A political party, by contrast, is a battlefield of ideas, ambition, and clashing egos, harder to discipline and harder still to unify. Yet in both, the same principle holds: leadership is not about domination but about shaping many into one, balancing order with inspiration, and binding individuals together under a shared purpose.

Consider the story of Sir Alex Ferguson, master of Manchester United, whose teams dominated English football for decades. He was not the greatest player, but he was a leader who demanded discipline on and off the pitch, instilling in his players habits of work and respect. Yet alongside this strictness, he gave them self-belief, convincing them they could overcome any opponent. His legacy proves Smith’s words: a team thrives only when discipline and belief walk hand in hand, guided by the steady hand of leadership.

History, too, offers its echoes. In ancient Greece, Themistocles united a divided Athens against the threat of Persia. His people were quarrelsome, like a political party rife with faction, yet through a blend of strict preparation and inspiring confidence, he forged them into a fleet that triumphed at Salamis. He did not crush their divisions by force but directed them toward a common goal. Here again, we see that leadership is not ease but art—the art of channeling discord into unity, weakness into strength.

The lesson for us is plain: whether you guide a family, a workplace, a community, or even yourself, you must cultivate both discipline and self-belief. Discipline anchors you when storms come; it keeps you steady in routine, faithful in duty, steadfast in principle. Self-belief, meanwhile, lifts you above despair; it fuels courage, sustains endurance, and inspires those around you. To lead is to bring these two together in harmony, so that others may not only follow but rise to their fullest strength.

Practical action lies before us: set standards for yourself and for those you lead—habits of integrity, honesty, and diligence. At the same time, speak words of encouragement, remind your companions of their worth, and show them through your example that victory is possible. Balance the strictness of law with the gentleness of inspiration. If you do this, you will find that even the hardest group to lead can become united, just as the most unlikely team can triumph against giants.

Thus, children of the future, remember Smith’s teaching. Leadership is not control but cultivation; not command but creation. It is the weaving together of discipline and self-belief, so that many voices may sing as one. Whether on the field, in the council, or in the home, this truth abides: to lead is to make others believe in themselves, and in doing so, to carry them beyond what they thought possible.