Breaking What Isn’t Broken: Lessons from USWNT Coach Emma Hayes

The U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (USWNT) made history once again in Paris, clinching a 1-0 victory over Brazil to secure the gold medal at the 2024 Olympics. But for Coach Emma Hayes, who led the team to this monumental achievement, the triumph was not an endpoint. Instead, it was a launchpad for more.

Coach Hayes, one of the most accomplished coaches in professional soccer, brought her trademark energy and relentless drive to the USWNT after 11 decorated seasons with Chelsea FC, where she guided the club to 13 major trophies. When she was hired as head coach of the USWNT in 2023, her mission transcended the pursuit of maintaining excellence—she set out to boldly redefine it.

In her words, shared recently on the team's Instagram account:

"I'm known for being a coach who goes harder after winning. If it isn't broken, break it. Because comfort is the death of teams."

This philosophy speaks volumes, not just for athletes, but for leaders, executives, and high performers in any field. It challenges us to rethink winning, growth, and the dangers of complacency.

1. Winning Is Not the Finish Line

For Hayes, a victory is not an excuse to relax—it's a call to action. When we reach milestones, we often fall into the trap of comfort, believing we've "made it." But sustained excellence requires seeing every win as a new beginning, a chance to recalibrate, innovate, and prepare for the next opportunity to compete.

2. Build a "No-Excuse" Culture

Hayes places a strong emphasis on accountability and discipline. Her teams have consistently thrived because every member, from players to coaching staff, understands that the team's success hinges on embracing personal and collective accountability. This no-excuses philosophy has empowered her teams and staff to take full ownership of their roles, regardless of the challenges they face.

3. Break What Isn't Broken

We often hear the phrase, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." But for Coach Hayes, complacency is the true enemy of greatness. Hayes' mantra, “Break what isn’t broken,” is a call to disrupt the status quo before change becomes inevitable. Innovation doesn’t always arise from necessity; more often, it’s born from the courage to challenge established systems and frameworks in pursuit of a competitive edge.

4. Stay Hungry

Despite her team's golden achievements, Hayes remains unwavering in her pursuit of excellence. For her, the job is not finished. This relentless drive to improve and constant push to reach for what lies beyond are what distinguish good leaders from truly great ones.

Coach Emma Hayes's perspective is a profound reminder for us as leaders across all domains: comfort is the death of teams. Whether we're leading a sports team, a business, or ourselves, the moment we settle for what's comfortable, we stop evolving, learning, competing and getting better.

As we reflect on her words, let's ask ourselves: Are we resting on our victories, or are we breaking what isn't broken to achieve something even greater?

The gold medal may hang around her players' necks, but for Coach Hayes and her team, the real victory lies ahead—in the pursuit of what's next.

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