What professionals can learn from Olympic athletes

It's Olympics season. The “Tokyo 2020” games in 2021 feel different; empty stands, postponed by a year, but still carry a sense of hope and sportsmanship. As winners place their own medals around their necks , watching the sports remind us of perseverance and resilience while adapting to what’s different from expectations, reminders that couldn’t have come at a better time.?

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Maybe the challenges that have faced the Olympics in its preparations up until now are a lesson on its own in planning-forced-into-flexibility. Tokyo 2020 chief Toshiro Muto was quoted saying “To be honest, I did not expect the Olympics to be happening like this. I thought the coronavirus would be gone or settled by the time the Olympics started.” Support from famously-enthusiastic Japanese Olympic fans subsided as Covid fears grew, and the cost of the event has more than doubled from its estimates.

But it’s because of these hurdles that watching this year’s athletes compete for their countries can make spectators at home feel a stronger sense of awe and inspiration, and maybe find parallels between the day to day and what’s on screen.

As a start, it helps to have talent, of course, and what sports psychologist Dr. Kevin Elko calls the “Maximum Performance Mindset” which includes values like discipline, self-control, confidence, and the ability to focus in critical situations. But it’s not just about those seconds that make the difference between gold and silver, the best athletes in the world apply these principles for a lifetime through training and preparation.?

I asked LinkedIn members to share ideas they find inspiring while watching the games, here’s what they said :?

? A "state of flow."

? "Hard work and patience."

? A "winning spirit."

? "No shortcuts."

? "Excellence, respect and friendship."

? "A difficult balance."?

? "Patience and perseverance."

• Athletes from 17 Arab countries are competing in the 32nd Olympic Games in Tokyo. Read more .
• Yusra Mardini, one of the 29 athletes of the Refugee Olympic Team, delivered a strong message to the world at the Tokyo Games. Read more .?
• The fastest woman in Saudi Arabia, Yasmeen al-Dabbagh represents the kingdom in Tokyo this year. Read more .
• Overcoming the civil war in Syria, Hend Zaza faced numerous obstacles in her path to become a world-renowned athlete. Read more .?
• Meet the UAE Olympic squad at the Tokyo Games. Read more .

What's your biggest takeaways from the Tokyo Olympics? What lessons do you think apply to our professional life as well? Share them in the comments below.