Could the World Cup influence boardrooms?

Charles Bresler

The World Cup may now be over, but the effect may be long-lasting in the world's boardrooms.

Speaking to MeetTheBoss.tv, Charles Bresler of Men's Wearhouse's EVP Marketing and HR discusses how adopting a sporting mentality can drive people in organizations forward, a lesson that won't go unnoticed during a summer filled with world class soccer heroes performing at the very peak of their game.

Charles Bresler is the EVP Marketing/HR at one of the biggest clothing retailers in the US, Men's Wearhouse. The company has approximately 580 men's retail stores that rent tuxedos and sell primarily men's suits, but the company also offers tailored clothing and accessories as well, including sportswear.

While the bulk of Men's Wearhouse's revenue comes from the classic suited-and-booted look; sports is never far from Bresler's mind: "In sports they have this saying, you can't coach speed. And energy [in the workplace] is a little bit like that. Energy is a product of feeling cared for, but also hiring somebody who is coachable and has the potential to have that energy."

Charles insists that Men's Wearhouse's growth has been down to the workforce on the shop floor: what he calls the frontline. "Every moment counts when dealing directly with the consumer," he explains in to the executive business channel. And, in such an environment, a ‘coaching' style of leadership has clearly paid off. "It's really all about the energy you bring to them that is going to get reciprocated to your customers and your other employees."

Much like any of the managers at this year's World Cup in South Africa, Charles clearly builds his vision around the team, opting to form energetic world-class teams who can collaborate and gain big wins instead of the individuals.

"You don't want to get lost in someone's great knowledge," notes Bresler. "What you need to do is to be aware that somebody has to genuinely liked talking to you and seek out being around people in a supportive environment."

Men's Wearhouse has already demonstrated that, under the leadership of George Zimmer and the coaching of Charles Bresler, difficult economic times doesn't have to mean tough times for business. In short, it's the team players that come through - some advice that the likes of Fabio Cappello, Raymond Domenech and Diego Maradona might have wanted to take on board during the tournament.

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