"Conti becomes world champion"

With the ContiTeamCup, Continental is putting on the largest corporate world cup playoffs anywhere in the world for the second time. HR Director Heinz-Gerhard Wente explains the motivation for holding the tournament, especially in economically difficult times. And what an entrepreneur can learn from football.

ContiSoccerWorld: Mr. Wente, Continental is once again organizing the ContiTeamCup. What made you decide to put on the tournament a second time?

Heinz-Gerhard Wente: Four years ago, the ContiTeamCup was a highly successful event, and the feedback we got at the time was very positive. And there is a fundamental idea behind the tournament: If we present a strong image outside the company as one of the main sponsors of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, it is only logical that we also display this spirit within the company as well. Like no other sport, football has the power to unite people around the world, in the stadium, in front of the television and, if you are actually kicking the ball yourself, on the field. Four years ago we noticed just how much such a tournament can boost the team spirit amongst employees, and that it creates new contacts that extend beyond formal borders. There are a lot of examples of employees who were already working on business projects together and who pulled together even more tightly thanks to the ContiTeamCup.

ContiSoccerWorld: Are there any aspects that, as an entrepreneur, you can learn from football?

Heinz-Gerhard Wente: Yes, there are a lot of parallels between football and the business world. Strategy and perseverance are a part of football, and they are of course also very important aspects in business life. You can never hang around on the sidelines, neither in your profession nor on the field. If you want to make outstanding achievements at your location and get along well with your colleagues at the workplace, team spirit is a must. Talents are fostered in football, and we do the same in the company. In addition, if a football team is good, a couple of experienced players can see to it that everybody keeps their cool during the decisive parts of the match and can take on responsibility for their team. The same holds true for a company.

ContiSoccerWorld: Is a good football player automatically also a good employee? It might be somewhat difficult to successfully integrate an exceptional player like Christiano Ronaldo, who can occasionally be somewhat egocentric, into a company.

Heinz-Gerhard Wente: We would first keep an eye on Ronaldo to see how things work out during his probationary period … (laughs). But seriously, the only statement that I can agree with fully is that all football players who participate in the ContiTeamCup are excellent employees. And of course, not every good employee – and we have only good employees – is also a good football player.

ContiSoccerWorld: Can such a tournament stir up undesirable tensions? Isn’t it possible that the frustration about an unfair penalty in the final minute might find its way into the company the next day, resulting in ill feelings at the workplace?

Heinz-Gerhard Wente: Football is always a topic of conversation. And of course Monday people will talk about it if, in the 93rd minute, the other team gets a penalty shootout that is considered to be unfair, regardless whether it’s in one of our matches or in the respective national league, or in the 2009 Confederations Cup or the World Cup in South Africa. Emotions are a part of it, and we are happy if employees display their emotions at one point or another. I don’t feel that it is a disadvantage if a situation from the match on the weekend is discussed again the next day.

ContiSoccerWorld: Do positive football experiences inspire the employees?

Heinz-Gerhard Wente: No doubt about it, a football tournament moves people. Like the FIFA World Cup tournaments mobilize the masses, our employees are also enthused about the in-company football world cup. Take the 2006 World Cup in Germany. It released an amazing amount of energy, spreading optimism throughout the country and into the world. As a company, of course, we would very much like to profit from such optimism and enthusiasm from our in-company employee world cup as well. The Mexican women’s team from Cuautla, that took the title in the last ContiTeamCup, was even welcomed back by the mayor. They really made a big event out of it. In that moment, the employees were undoubtedly all the more proud of being a part of Conti.

ContiSoccerWorld: Is it at all possible to put a value on such a tournament in business terms? What is the value generated by an in-company tournament?

Heinz-Gerhard Wente: If you are asking me as someone working in human resources, I would say that I don’t really think it very important to quantify the tournament in values. I watch the people. I am delighted when they are having fun and identify with our company and perhaps take along a bit of additional motivation from the event. As a company manager, I must say that every promotional campaign outside of the company should of course always result in a quantitative economic success. In the case of our sponsoring activities, this can be checked very well.

ContiSoccerWorld: The automotive industry is going through very difficult times. In view of this, isn’t there some irritation amongst employees who are wondering why you are celebrating a football festival now, of all times?

Heinz-Gerhard Wente: There were those who voiced this opinion, and I feel it is very good that the purpose of such an event was discussed at first. It just confirms that the employees and supervisors are dealing with the situation and not just getting back to business as usual. In the Executive Board, we deliberated intensively whether to organize the ContiTeamCup again, coming to the conclusion that we consciously want to use this event to get away from day-to-day business for a bit. Without a doubt, the situation we are facing is difficult, but we can master it as a team. Here, a football tournament is ideal. You can play together, contend and, in the end, celebrate together, forgetting the major challenges presented by business life for a few hours.

ContiSoccerWorld: What do you think about Continental’s football potential? Are there any undiscovered talents?

Heinz-Gerhard Wente: All of us have some characteristics common to football players: The Brazilian ball artists, the strategic Germans, the well prepared Asians… We can rely on a huge potential for football skill in our ranks and are anxious to find out who will be competing in the final match in 2010.

ContiSoccerWorld: Do you expect to see talent scouts from FC Bayern München or FC Barcelona on the sidelines?

Heinz-Gerhard Wente: We won’t give up our best players, and they would be way too expensive anyway (laughs).

ContiSoccerWorld: In the last tournament in 2005/2006, there wasn’t an Executive Board team. Isn't it about time that the senior executives put on their football shoes?

Heinz-Gerhard Wente: There are only three of us in the Executive Board, which would be just enough for a goalkeeper and two defenders. For that reason, we will be loyal fans, watching the matches from the sidelines.

ContiSoccerWorld: But we heard that you actually played football yourself at one time...

Heinz-Gerhard Wente: That’s true, but only as an amateur, and I ended my career about ten years ago. The team would have disbanded at some time anyway, as most of the players had reached a certain age, or didn't have enough time. Twenty years ago I couldn’t have imagined that I would not be playing football someday. But you get used to it.

ContiSoccerWorld: And what is your tip? Who will become world champion in the ContiTeamCup?

Heinz-Gerhard Wente: Continental! I can’t be more precise. After all, everything is possible in football. We are looking forward to good matches and a good atmosphere, and then everybody wins.