I grew up in a football-loving family.

That’s why I know something of Brian Clough – the greatest Manager England never had.

But I didn’t know anything about his partner in management, Peter Taylor, until I watched the film The Damned United.

Brian Clough had been a marvel as the Manager of Derby County – where Peter Taylor had been his Assistant Manager.

Clough was also skilled as a footballer and as a witty commentator. He was so outspoken that Muhamad Ali felt compelled to once tell Brian Clough that he spoke too much.

It was undeniable that Clough enjoyed the limelight and increasingly, at the clubs he managed, what he said went.

He transformed Derby County from a languishing second division club to the winner of the first division (now the Premier League) within a season.

He did this with the support of Peter Taylor.

Taylor was his sage. He was the talent spotter, the strategist, the amiable, understanding people person.

Clough once described their relationship in this way: Clough was “the shop window” and Taylor was “the goods in the back”.

The Power of Partnership

At times, Clough took his partner for granted.

At one point, Clough reneged on a deal the pair had made with Brighton – a deal Taylor had set up after Clough had rashly sent a resignation letter to the Board of Derby County.

Not just a resignation letter for himself, but a resignation letter for him and Taylor.

And counter to his certainty that the Board would fight to keep them, the Board accepted the resignation.

In spite of having accepted the Manager role at Brighton, Clough was lured by Leeds United – a major club at the time – to be their Manager.

It took Brian Clough the experience of public humiliation – his failure at Leeds United – to realize how much he needed Taylor.

Sometimes the people with the loftier title, or the greater presence in the limelight, forget the engine that helps power them.

If they gain wisdom before it’s too late, either independently through reflection, or with the benefit of public humiliation, they realize that no one gets anywhere without a partner or a team of supporters.

Fortunately for Brain Clough, he was able to recognize the true strength of his partner, Taylor. He reached out to apologize and to ask to reunite with him.

Together, they took on the leadership of a struggling club, Nottingham Forest, and turned it into a major champion – winning a string of titles in a short period of time.

The saying goes: Brian Clough – the greatest Manager England never had.

But the saying should perhaps also add: Peter Taylor – the greatest Assistant Manager England never had.

The Leadership Lesson

There are two lessons in leadership from these stories.

One leadership lesson is from Taylor.

Taylor was true to his word. He had made a commitment to join Brighton and stuck to it. He wanted – and needed – what Brighton had to offer.

The other leadership lesson is from Clough.

When sacked by Leeds, he could have stubbornly soldiered on alone, but he recognized the criticality of his partnership with Taylor.

He reunited with the one person who fully understood him – the person who could take him to one side and give him the advice he needed, in a way that he would accept it.

I call these moments in emotionally intelligent leadership.

Emotionally intelligent leaders blend emotional and rational data to make better decisions. They develop and practise the leadership capability that sets shared, meaningful goals, enables strong value creation and motivates people to deliver enhanced performance.