Why average sports people make exceptional leaders

Recently in my business, I've been spending the majority of my time speaking with Multi Academy Trusts and time after time, the executives have come from a Sporting background. With many of their schools being run by former PE teachers. Being a former PE teacher myself who now heads up a technology company, this got me thinking, what is it in a sporting individual that transition so well into the business, education leadership and management?

In every interview I’ve ever had, I’ve always made reference to fitness and body building being a great analogy to represent my ability to be very capable of delivering great results to their required tasks. Growing muscle or cardio fitness is a slow process that takes commitment and great dedication over many years. Being a 'gym freak' (especially in my 20’s) I would make reference to how I could put my mind to anything, stating how in my teens I was super skinny and now in my late 20’s I'm was stronger than the majority of my peers, whom at one stage of my life poked fun of my 'skinny arms’. If I could commit to that type of daily dedication for years, to turning my appearance around, in turn improving my mental state (confidence) through daily action, then surely simply learning about their product or service would be a 'piece of cake"? I could simply transition the same mindset into their business even if I did not have the experience they required.

You only have to look at the premier league managers such Arensen Wenger, Jurgen Klopp, Alex Ferguson and Joe Mourinho all arguably ‘journeymen football players’ who have turned out to be some of the great sports leaders of our generation. As the elite dedicate their life to the goal of being the best at their sport, it seems that many of the ‘average sports people' move on to be elite in other areas of life. 

Here is my take on why:

Nowhere to hide - in sport you are what you achieve. There is only one matrix and that is won or lost. 

A learning culture - it is the norm to consistently want to learn and improve. It is embedded into mindset early on that ‘critism’ of your performance is fundamental for the next game, match, round or test. Improvement becomes the only wanted feedback. 

Team work - team sports are about the team. In a game of football (soccer) you can be the best striker in the world but without a midfield, you will never score and without a solid defence you will never win. This creates a culture of great team ethics as the majority is out of your control. 

Strategy and tactics - as long as I can remember within all my sporting teams, we have had a game plan. Sports people have spent years working on strategies and performed individual tactic on behalf of the overriding plan. It’s the norm to focus on your individual role and not do it all. 

Commitment, dedication and discipline - to be successful in any sport you need to be fit. To be fit you need to eat well and lead a healthy lifestyle. In this day and age that takes willpower and great mental strength, as well as the incredible dedication and intellectual thinking.

Supporting your team members - in team sports, you grow up with a 'one for all all for one' mentally. You never leave anyone on their own or struggling at the back. you create a mentality of the family where everyone must be looked after. This creates a culture of the 'best' providing support for the 'average'.