What’s tough love in business context?

Think of Sir Alex Ferguson (which is hard for me as I’m a Liverpool fan) who personified it for me.

Ferguson managed Manchester United for an amazing 26 years, residing over the clubs most successful period, and recognised by many as the best football manager ever.

Under his stewardship Manchester United won 38 trophies. Including 13 Premier League titles, 5 FA Cups and 2 UEFA Champions League titles.

Amazingly, this success was achieved without being the biggest spending club in Europe or the Premiership.

Yes, Ferguson did go out and buy the odd superstar, if he thought they would improve the team and integrate quickly into the culture he had created.

Although, he is more revered for cultivating young players, either bringing them through United’s youth team or buying them from the lower leagues and abroad.

What he did well, was to create a culture not about the individual, but one about the collective, instilling a mentality where each team member would run through walls for him and each other.

Ferguson would map out the field of play and give each of his team members the rules of the game, providing them with the confidence to flourish. But with a warning to stay within these guidelines.

He loved his players and pushed them to be great, but he had uncompromising standards, and if any of his team members stepped outside the guidelines, he’d act quickly to get them back onside.

Ferguson’s tough love approach worked well for the development of his players and allowed him to build multiple winning teams, which brought the club, players, and supporters much success.

We’re no Ferguson, but we try to use some of his methods (maybe not the hair dryer). Liking trusting our team to do a great job, governed by the Simple Honest Service culture of our organisation.

…that said, how would you describe tough love in a business context?