Sports: Lessons in Leadership

I may not be an Olympic-level athlete…

BUT... I LOVE sports.

As a child, I was encouraged to participate in team sports. This instilled in me a commitment to the greater good—a "good" rooted in dedication to the team, the team's vision, and our collective goals.

I remember, as a secondary student, having to choose between two sports as a representative athlete. The skills required for both were complementary. I'm glad that we've moved beyond this limitation. At that time, I believed there was a place and time for pushing the boundaries of conventional thought; however, going it alone was not ideal. This was neither the time nor the context in which I had the support to challenge the status quo. While I was determined, as a teenager, I lacked self-confidence.

I then sustained a major injury in my chosen sport. Despite having a world-leading surgeon, there was no psychological support to help me push past it. The great Michael Jones was my benchmark. I would watch his progress and model my own journey after his, albeit without professional support. What I learned was that with determination, information gathering, and commitment, you can achieve things beyond expectations.

I then switched sports. I learned new skills while transferring the grit and resilience from my previous experiences into my new pursuits. I was doing well. I had the determination, responsiveness, and coaching from some of the best in the business. But then I faced another major challenge that sidelined me for a couple of years. During this time, I developed deep grit, focus, and the ability to overcome adversity, stand up for myself, and learn many transferable skills.

Over a 20-year period, I was involved in various other sports, mostly in a teaching capacity and sometimes competitively.

As my family grew up and my life expanded, I discovered a newfound yearning to be part of a team while also pushing my personal boundaries. This included trekking to some of the highest parts of the world. I absolutely loved it.

And now, here I am today, at age 54, ready for new adventures that combine elements of my past with new perspectives. This is a story yet to be written.

But what has all of this taught me about leadership?

I believe an equation sums it up:

(IS + TS) ES = PO

Individual strengths + Team strengths X Expert strengths = Powerful Outcomes

When individuals maximise their potential and the team harnesses these strengths, and then you bring in the expertise to mould and amplify them, you achieve powerful outcomes.

So, my question to you is, how are you amplifying each part of the equation to build powerful outcomes for those you serve?

I love working alongside those striving for powerful outcomes. I support organisations in amplifying these elements for their own powerful outcomes. 2025 is on my horizon. Let me know if you want to push the boundaries of the status quo, amplify momentum, and plan for the possibilities in your context

I’m excited to be launching our 2025 programmes soon. If you want to get a jump-start on your PLD planning, drop me a line.