by Stephen T. Messenger
July 14, 2026
Norway’s historic World Cup soccer run came to an end last Saturday. This team from a country of only 5.5 million citizens fielded an underdog team in the final eight against established champions from countries with an average population of 36 million.
It’s a head-scratcher how they could be that good. But after understanding a little more about their culture, it becomes apparent why their players are so passionate about soccer.
In Norway, children have the right to participate in any sport they choose. Instead of being pushed into one by their parents, they are encouraged to try multiple sports and see which one brings them the most joy. This creates a team of athletes that want to play the game, are well-rounded in other sports, and possess the freedom to write their own story.
These three concepts are not just important in sports, but in any career path or job we’re in. We need people who want to be there, have skills beyond their current job, and feel the autonomy of being able to choose. We need to create an environment like Norwegian sports to create a team that both wants to be there and has a winning spirit.
The Joy of the Game
Idrettsglede is the Norwegian philosophy that children should participate in the sports they want to, not the ones they are forced into. Sports are considered a leisurely activity, meant to induce competition and enjoyment. There is little pressure to win. Instead, coaches seek to bring out the joy of the game.
Now, idrettsglede doesn’t ignore the pursuit of excellence. It combines fun and ambition to create both athletes who enjoy the game as kids and those who want to continue in the sport for years to come.
Let’s be honest. At work, it’s hard to find people sometimes who are there for the love of the game. Many people have chosen careers they don’t like or are stuck in positions they aren’t passionate about. They’ve lost their idrettsglede.
Often, they need a little help finding that joy. As a leader, it’s our job to help people enjoy what they’re doing. I know, this is a near-impossible task as it’s an individual effort. But like coaches, supervisors have a huge effect on job satisfaction.
Simply by encouraging others, being positive, listening to ideas, providing positive feedback, and motivating those around us, we can help people find joy they may have lost. Sometimes it’s about letting people choose work activities they enjoy. When we can match passion to work, employees have greater potential to perform better. Regardless of how we do it, helping people find joy is an important leader skillset.
Multiple Disciplines
The Norwegian star soccer forward, Erling Haaland, grew up playing his current sport along with handball, track and field, and cross-country skiing. At 14, he chose soccer as his main sport.
Leading his team with seven goals in this year’s World Cup, his multi-sport background gives him a clear competitive edge. Sports science shows that playing diverse sports early in life builds superior spatial awareness, explosive core strength, and unique movement patterns that specialization can miss. His goalie teammate, Orjan Nyland, grew up with handball and alpine skiing. While these athletes perfected soccer, their childhood sports gave them additional skills to excel on the pitch.
At work, we need people who have talents beyond their job. The requirement is that someone is competent at the task at hand. But when challenges arise, it’s nice to have people with multiple skillsets who can think differently based on past experience.
This concept of cross-training isn’t limited to physical sports; it applies directly to cognitive and professional development as well. Former Marine General Jim Mattis said, “If you haven’t read hundreds of books, you are functionally illiterate.” This statement implies that we can learn a lot from other experiences. If we have knowledge through other ideas and disciplines, we will be more well-rounded to solve problems as they arise.
We can help our people at work gain experiences by letting them try new things, jobs, and tasks. By giving employees broader roles, they gain skills that help them see a bigger picture, and solve problems with different lenses. While it’s comfortable to keep a high performer in the same job, it’s invaluable to expand their knowledge.
The Author of My Story
Finally, Norway protects the child’s right to choose their sport. As they get older, they are expected not to be forced into a discipline of someone else’s choosing, but their own.
The Norwegian Handball Team wanted Haaland to join them on a professional track. At age 14, he instead chose soccer of his own volition. This choice made him the author of his own story. The Norwegian Children’s Rights in Sports has eight principles, one giving them autonomy to pick their sports path and determine how much they want to practice.
Everyone at our workplaces has chosen their path. Each employee at one point raised their hand and said they would apply for employment at that place. However, once they arrive, there are usually multiple paths in any job they can choose. The best leaders out there offer options for employees to branch out and write their own narrative.
For example, I have a duty description as an instructor to teach students and administer curriculum. That’s my job. But at the same time, I’m pursuing multiple passion projects, often at my own time expense, such as writing, conducting battlefield staff rides, and volunteering for special projects. While I have a job I must do, there are also things I want to do.
Work is more than a 9-to-5 get your job done. Employees need autonomy to choose their own adventure and find things they’re passionate about. A good boss helps them do so. A great boss encourages them to find new opportunities. In the process, they gain multiple disciplines and love of the game.
Passion and Winning
I am convinced that employees who love what they do will be more successful. Those with a passion for their work and a joy to come in every day are happier people. Those with a leader who is concerned about these goals are even better off.
Norway has it right. From a young age, they help children foster excitement for competition. The country gives them the right to try any sport they want, which broadens their athletic abilities. When they are old enough, they then get to choose for themselves which one, or none at all, they want to stick with. This recipe creates athletes who have a love of the game, the skills to excel, and who work hard to win at their passion.
There’s very little difference in the workplace. We need to encourage employees to love what they do, try different things, and have autonomy to accomplish goals in line with their job and organizational success. By championing autonomy and diverse experiences, we do more than just build better workers, we build a self-motivated team that is fiercely inspired to show up, support one another, and win.
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