A thing or two about sports that makes great leaders

American tennis legend Billie Jean King had said something that has always resonated with me --- “Sports teaches you character, it teaches you to play by the rules, it teaches you to know what it feels like to win and lose. It teaches you about life.”

There is no denying that sportsmanship and leadership are connected, in more ways than one. A good leader believes that success can only come with great teamwork --- an important aspect we see in sports. They will always nurture employees to bring out the best in them, just as a good coach does for athletes. To help a business flourish, everyone must work together.?

Sports teaches perseverance, the determination to learn from failures and get back up on your feet. Sports teaches us to grit our teeth and not give up until we succeed. That’s what fuels a successful business too --- a leader who learns from mistakes but never gives up.?

Sport teaches us to set targets and work towards achieving them with clear strategies, stepping stones and actions. I remember when I targeted breaking one hour and 30 minutes for the Half Marathon. I picked 4 races over 3 months, set a clear training plan, stuck to it and achieved the target on the last race. The passion with which I went about it and the sense of satisfaction I got was clear for everyone to see, and also infectious to others around me. That brings up something else. By publishing your targets you will always be more likely to succeed. It is scientifically proven that if you tell everyone around you that you will give up smoking you are more likely to achieve this than if you try alone.

Sports teaches us to stay healthy and fit in life. I find this very important because if you are full of positive energy, you automatically bring it into the workplace and your productivity will increase many times.?

Now to my own sporting background. I ran the first of 5 Marathons in 1998 and for me, it was never good enough just to complete the race. I had to put a clear plan in place to achieve the best possible time. I joined a club, read every magazine going, bought the best shoes I could afford and surrounded myself with people who shared that same vision. I know the time I wanted to achieve from the first day of training. And I achieved it - 3 hours 21 minutes. The mantra from this was that if you are going to do something, don’t do it half-heartedly but give it your best effort and achieve the best result you can. This can be also be applied to your own business targets.

The Ironman was different, without doubt the target was clear and that was to finish the event itself. An Ironman is a grueling challenge of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and then run a marathon 26.2 miles. This itself required a clear and structured training program but what it also required was sheer determination. You couldn’t miss a training session, whether in the pool or out on the road. This is a different lesson- a lesson in prioritization. Don’t say you don’t have time or you are too busy for something. If it is important then you will find the time. I completed the Ironman in 2007 in a time of 13 and a half hours.

I look for sporting achievement in young people as often it is too early in life for career achievements. Does someone show the level of determination and application to achieve something in sport? If that is there within them then this will also be applied to the work environment.

So I summarise this that sporting achievement taught me many things. Firstly, the determination to achieve targets and to work towards them with clear plans. Secondly, teamwork. Teams achieve things together. Even if it’s not a team sport, surround yourself with like-minded people and you will all achieve. Lastly, being fit in life will bring far more than just success in a sport, it will bring you energy for work and family.

…Right, now I am going out on my bike. Speaking of, the ?KODA journey started more than 125 years ago with a bicycle named SLAVIA. Today, ?KODA AUTO has become one of the most renowned car makers the world over. It really doesn’t matter where you come from, but the ability to dream big and then chart out a strategy to achieve your dreams. A timely and relevant plank for my next piece.?