Should one ever return to a former employer? It can end in tears because the dynamics of the organisation have changed and your knowledge of it is outdated.
The Appointments section of the Financial Times discussed this dilemma in yesterday’s issue in terms of the return of José Mourinho to Chelsea. The Pink ‘Un asks, are Mr Mourinho and Mr Abramovich right to work together again?
Should one ever return to a former employer? It can end in tears because the dynamics of the organisation have changed and your knowledge of it is outdated.
The Appointments section of the Financial Times discussed this dilemma in yesterday’s issue in terms of the return of José Mourinho to Chelsea. The Pink ‘Un asks, are Mr Mourinho and Mr Abramovich right to work together again?
José Mourinho has made a great deal of how he has matured and changed since he left Chelsea and managed Inter Milan and Real Madrid. However, he still shows a capacity to play the psychological mind games which are part of the role at the very top levels of football. Certainly journalists and commentators welcome his return to the Premier League because of the good copy he provides.
The FT advises Mourinho through Professor Juilia Hobsbawm of Cass Business School that he needs to build up his own networks very quickly as a source of good knowledge. This could be taken as implying that he needs to mind his back.
The FT, which misses no opportunity to illustrate its articles with examples from football, is uncertain about how things are going to develop: ‘So far, José Mourinho seems to have picked up where he left off at Chelsea. His departure six years ago was accompanied by reports of a turbulent relationship with Roman Abramovich and the manager is not known for shying away from controversy.’
Sitting on the fence, the FT proclaims: ‘Perhaps time apart has given employer and employee a chance to make a fresh start – or will tensions gradually emerge?’
In any event the FT promises us more football in next Thursday’s Appointments supplement with celebrity referee Graham Poll talking about his career. Perhaps he will reveal that he was an alien implant who breathes methane which would help to explain some of his decisions.