Rethinking the Possible

Faced with a fairly challenging task recently, the team leader’s first question was: Is it possible?

How did the expression of that thought – by the team leader – impact the leader herself and the team members?

I wondered if her question was fueled by a desire to compete and accomplish the task. Or possibly it was aimed at boosting confidence: if others have accomplished this, then so could they.

The rest of the team seemed to be excited about the opportunity to jump in and get to grips with finding a solution.

What was really on my mind was whether the question had placed limits on the leader’s own perception of whether she and the team could achieve the task. Maybe she believed there was one ‘perfect’ solution. I also wondered whether this question – and the assumed intent behind it - had impacted the team’s performance.

The bigger question posed, ‘Is it possible?’ bounced around my brain.

I began thinking of some of the things that seemed impossible, but once they had been proved possible, inspired others to aim higher. And because sports hold such vivid memories for me, these examples all come from great sporting achievements.

Impossible Limits?

In the world of running, it was deemed physically impossible to run a mile in under 4 minutes, until Roger Bannister achieved that feat in May 1954.

For many years the accepted wisdom in gymnastics was that it was impossible to score a perfect 10 at the Olympics. So ingrained was this thinking that the scoreboard had not been programmed to display a ‘10’. Yet in 1976, at the Montreal Olympics, a 14-year old Romanian gymnast, Nadia Comaneci, did just that – she scored a perfect 10. Not just in one disciple, but in seven. The score was displayed as a 1.00 – this being the closest the scoreboard came to communicating a 10.

When Pete Sampras was nearing the end of his tennis career, and had won 14 Grand Slams, he was asked how long it would be before another tennis player would equal this unparalleled achievement. He guessed possibly another 20 years. Little did he know that the person who would match and exceed his accomplishment – Roger Federer – was already on the circuit.

In international cricket, it seemed incredible that any player could score 100 centuries– until Sachin Tendulkar raised his bat to mark his 100th international century in March 2012.

And Since Then?

Since Roger Bannister’s 3 minutes and 94 second mile, over 1,700 runners have run a mile in under 4 minutes.

Since Nadia Comaneci’s first perfect 10, there have been another 115 at the Olympic Games – with Comaneci securing eight of those.

Since Pete Sampras achieved 14 Grand Slams, three tennis players have won 14 or more Grand Slams. Indeed, each of those players – Federer, Nadal and Djokovic have won 20 or more Grand Slams.

And what about cricketers achieving over 100 centuries in international matches? There, Sachin Tendulkar still stands alone. But what has been the impact of his achievement? Do you think younger cricketers are now setting their sights on that goal with greater confidence, now that they know it is possible?

What Limits Are You Setting?

What are the limits you are communicating – consciously or otherwise - to yourself, your team, colleagues or children, and how is this impacting their willingness to give things a go, and grow?

Andrea Stone is an Executive Coach, supporting leaders and their teams define and achieve greater success - overcoming limiting thoughts and limiting skillsets along the way.

?Andrea Stone, Stone Leadership