Leadership Lessons from the 2024 Paris Olympics

With the Paris Olympics wrapped up, it’s incredible to witness the sheer athleticism and outstanding achievements of competitors from around the globe. But beyond the medals and records, the Olympics offer a wealth of leadership lessons that can be applied in our own lives and careers. From the triumphs of underdogs to the humbling defeats of favourites, these moments on the world stage provide us with invaluable insights into what it takes to lead effectively.

Here are four leadership lessons from the 2024 Paris Olympics that resonated with me and can inspire us all.

Beyond the medals and records, the Olympics offer a wealth of leadership lessons that can be applied in our own lives and careers.

1. Expect to Be Disrupted

As we saw at the Olympics, new talent can quickly emerge and challenge established players. At just 17 years old, Canada's Summer McIntosh became a breakout star at the Paris Olympics, winning three gold medals?one silver medal, outshining more experienced competitors. Her success exemplifies the need for leaders to anticipate disruption, especially from younger, innovative players who can quickly reshape the competitive landscape.

Summer McIntosh's success exemplifies the need for leaders to anticipate disruption, especially from younger, innovative players who can quickly reshape the competitive landscape.

2. Never Underestimate Your Competition

Overconfidence can lead to unexpected and humbling defeats when your rivals are fully prepared. Canada’s men’s 4x100m relay team , led by Andre De Grasse, won a surprising gold medal, despite being mocked by the U.S. team before the race. The U.S. athletes were confident they would win, but the Canadians proved them wrong. This offers two crucial lessons: 1) never underestimate your competition and 2) always be humble.

3. Half of Success Is Showing Up

Sometimes, you don’t need all the fancy gear and equipment; you just need to show up and get the job done. Turkish shooter Yusuf Dike? became a viral sensation at the Paris Olympics when he snagged the silver medal with minimal equipment - competing with just his prescription glasses, a simple ear plug and a laid-back attitude, his hand casually tucked into his pocket. Dike?’s success illustrates that simply showing up and focusing on execution can often be more important than having the best resources.

Sometimes, you don’t need all the fancy gear and equipment; you just need to show up and get the job done.

4. Prepare Thoroughly or Risk Embarrassment

Show up to the job prepared. Rachael Gunn , an Australian academic who competed in the breakdancing event at the Paris Olympics, faced a tough reality when she scored zero points from the judges. Despite her excitement, her performance fell flat, leading to widespread criticism and memes online. This underscores the importance of thorough preparation in leadership; without it, even the most passionate of efforts can lead to failure and embarrassment, affecting both personal and organizational reputation.

These leadership lessons from the Paris Olympics remind us that the principles of success, whether on the track, in the pool or in the boardroom, remain fundamentally the same: humility, adaptability, perseverance, implementation and preparation are critical to achieving one's goals.

Dr. Glenn Rowe is a corporate strategy and leadership scholar, award-winning researcher, naval veteran, speaker and Full Professor at Ivey Business School, Western University. Follow him on Twitter @drglennrowe