When Manchester United steps onto the pitch at Old Trafford, they’re not just playing a football match, they’re representing a legacy, a brand, and a global community of millions. But even the biggest club in the world knows: without buy-in from the squad, coaching staff, and fans, you're not winning anything.
That’s exactly how employee advocacy works.
Players, Fans, and the Power of Internal Voices
Think of your employees as your starting XI. Each one has their own strengths, skills, and influence. When they believe in the mission, when they want to wear the shirt, they become your most powerful brand ambassadors.
At Manchester United, success doesn’t only come from the players. It comes from the grounds crew, the media team, the physios, and the die-hard fans who proudly share every goal, every win, and yes, even every setback. Why? Because they feel like they’re part of the story.
That’s what great companies do when they unlock employee advocacy.
The Sir Alex Effect: Leadership That Inspires Advocacy
Sir Alex Ferguson didn’t build one of the most dominant teams in history by telling people what to post on social media. He created a culture of belief, belief in the system, in each other, and in the long-term mission.
Employee advocacy isn’t about giving people a script. It’s about building a workplace so inspiring that your people want to tell the world they work there.
From Dressing Room to LinkedIn Feed
In the modern workplace, the locker room is Slack, and the stadium is LinkedIn. Every employee post, comment, or reshare is a badge of belief, a sign that they back the brand.
Research shows people trust content shared by employees 6x more than content shared by the brand itself. Just like fans believe a player when they say the club is special, not just a PR team.
Final Whistle
Manchester United’s motto is “Youth, Courage, Greatness.” And in many ways, that’s the mindset of employee advocacy too. Empower your people. Trust their voice. Build a culture worth sharing.
Because in business, just like football, it’s the team behind the badge that wins the titles.
Want to turn your employees into your biggest fans?
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