Rory McIlroy, Carl Frampton, Snow Patrol and Van Morrison are synonymous with success in Northern Ireland. From sports to arts we have so much to offer.

What we are often missing, however, is political leadership, substituted for administration; long-term strategy, sacrificed for short-term gain.

In Alastair Campbell’s book Winners he outlines his key to success as being OST: Objective, Strategy and Tactics. From his conversations with leaders in sport, business and politics I reckon there are plenty of learning points for our local politicians.

With the objective of winning power, Northern Ireland political parties could compare the political marketplace a lot more, concentrate on playing their own game as opposed to that of others, and constantly question electoral loses and marginal gains.

 

Business: Comparing the market

Recalling how Sainsbury’s came to dominate the retail industry, ex-CEO Justin King emphasises the importance of studying competitors and being honest about their merits as a powerful aid to strategic thinking.

Our political parties trace their roots to different parts of history and movements yet today their messages seem quite similar; in today’s marketplace, studying other parties and their merits could teach them a bit more about themselves and their shortcomings, and help them promote a tangible alternative.

 

Sport: Playing your own game

Of Campbell’s interviews with sports personalities, of particular interest are the words of Russian Chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov:

“If you change your strategy all the time you really don’t have one… In Chess if you play without long-term goals your decisions will be purely reactive and you’ll be playing your opponent’s game, not your game.”

Like this kind of approach can be counterproductive in sport, imagine a small business merging with a bigger business: the game, the competition – the difference in offering – is over.

The same applies to politics and attempts at electoral pacts here, nationalist or unionist.

 

Politics: Reaching out

Albanian Prime Minister and ex-national basketball star Edi Rama’s focus on teamship and readiness to use criticism for good is excellent.

In politics, he says, teammates can be forced upon you: “part of the art of leadership is getting rid of any personal anger and mobilising for the sake of success.”

Ahead of Albania’s 2013 election, sending a camera crew around the country and asking not why voters would vote for Rama, but why they wouldn’t, provided an opportunity to deal with criticisms head on; these people had to be persuaded if the party was to win.

According to Campbell, it was a turning point in the campaign with Rama going on to win by a landslide.

 

A winning formula

Constant self-reflection and analysis of competitors, consistent strategy and willingness to try new things are important to winning.

No doubt our sports, arts and business leaders could teach politicians lessons on leadership, the importance of long-term goals and strategy.

In Northern Ireland, a win isn’t really a win when you target only the nationalist or unionist poll; better for a party to genuinely target all voters as opposed to limiting its offering and expectations.