Business and Sport – Perspectives on Performance and Success
Natalie Whittlesey
Director C-Suite Engagement. Events, insights, thought leadership, solutions and DE&I evangelist.
In this month’s The INside Leadership View I’ll explore how business leaders can look to the world of sport for advice on harnessing purpose and driving performance to reach goals.
At the core of this article are two stars from the world of sport: Jamil Qureshi and Maggie Alphonsi MBE.? ?Leading performance coach and psychologist Jamil spoke to our business community at our InX Summit this month.? Maggie, who represented England 74 times in international women’s rugby, provided a separate inspiring keynote to our group last week.
By listening to these passionate and entertaining game-changers - who excelled in their fields and have helped others to do the same - it’s clear that businesses can learn a great deal.? From purpose driven success to disrupting conventional thinking, we’ll explore five key takeaways.?
But first…
Can Business Really Learn from Sport?
Sports and business both focus on performance, competition and strategy to thrive.? The principles that drive success in sports can often translate directly to the corporate world. ??Here are some obvious examples:
A Winning Culture
Sports teams flourish when there’s a strong, unified culture and clear shared vision at their core.? Similar cultures will allow people to blossom in most successful businesses, too.?
The Importance of Teamwork
From Formula 1 drivers to Wimbledon finalists, even the most gifted of sports people rely on a team to reach the top.? The same is true for businesses where specialist colleagues play their part and nurture cross-collaboration to maximise success.?
Resilience and Adaptability.
Athletes face setbacks and injuries.? Maggie, for example, spoke of her resilience through various challenges which began way before her sporting career.? This ability to bounce-back has been crucial.? The same can be said for businesses facing volatile markets.?
High Performance Mindsets
Sports psychology, Jamil’s domain, focuses on enhancing performance by managing pressure, visualising success and maintaining focus. Businesses and organisations can adopt these techniques, too.
Data Driven Decision Making
Sports teams rely on analytics to refine strategies and optimise performance to continuously reach the next level and stay ahead. Businesses, too, use data to improve decision-making and forecast outcomes.
Five Actionable Insights from Jamil and Maggie
Hopefully, I’ve stated the case for learning from sports adequately.? High-performance is fundamental, and competitors and teams work hard to excel in a given area, drawing on various tools, mantras and techniques.? Below, I’ve summarised five insights from the world of sport shared by the incredibly successful Maggie and Jamil.?
1. Amplify What Works
Instead of focusing energy on fixing what's broken, both Maggie and Jamil advise doubling down on what’s delivering results. ??
“Make your strengths even stronger.” - Maggie Alphonsi?
Jamil explains that this involves "turning the application up" on effective strategies, as small adjustments—like a 1-degree change—can yield exponential long-term outcomes.
Visualising success rather than dwelling on obstacles is central to this approach, ensuring forward momentum.?
2. Value Creation and Differentiation
Jamil emphasises the importance of defining success by contribution, not activity. ?This perspective challenges organisations to focus on the value they create rather than the products or services they offer. ?
"Differentiation - not just competition - drives growth." - Jamil Qureshi ?
For instance, a business should aim to offer a unique value proposition rather than simply striving to be incrementally better than competitors.
3. Foster Connection and Collaboration
Innovation stems from connecting previously unrelated ideas, concepts, or people. Jamil believes that high-performing teams are built on diversity of thought and psychological safety, which encourage members to contribute authentically and engage in meaningful problem-solving. ?
“By leveraging collective knowledge and forming networks, organisations can outpace competitors through collaborative learning,” advises Jamil.
Maggie adds that empowerment and trust are crucial if leaders want teams to connect, innovate and reach goals.
4. Redefine Success, Visualise the ‘Why’ and Avoid Complacency
Success should inspire further ambition, not neutrality or protectionism.
Jamil warns against stagnation caused by over-reliance on past achievements. Instead, leaders should focus on being on a mission driven by purpose, not just adhering to mission statements.
This mindset shifts emphasis from maintaining the status quo to seeking meaningful growth and innovation.?
Maggie calls this the ‘Why?’? She recommends visualising a ‘priceless moment’ that is being worked towards for each goal on the journey (for her, a key goal was holding the world cup aloft).? This ‘Why’ fuelled her journey and kept her motivated and able to tap into new levels of energy when challenges arose.
5. Challenge Beliefs and Think Differently
Our experiences reflect our belief systems. To solve new problems, Jamil encourages challenging entrenched assumptions and adopting fresh perspectives. ?Strategies like gamification or role reversals can help teams think creatively. ?This process of discovery - not compliance - leads to breakthrough ideas, enabling organisations to adapt to a constantly evolving environment.
The Winning Formula
By bringing their experience of sport to the world of business, Jamil and Maggie offer ideas and frameworks for leaders and teams to redefine their approach to success, build resilience, and achieve goals in any field.? To find out more you can read or hear more here:
Until next time, stay up to date by following InX, the InX Connect newsletter and The IN Group, and don’t hesitate to contact me or one of our team if you need to hire executive talent or deliver transformation to accelerate your business.? We’d love to help.
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