Sports and Business

There are many parallels between business and sport; goal orientated, staying ahead of the game, focus, training, individual achievements, working as a team. It’s not unusual for retired sports stars to become business coaches as the skill sets can often be seamlessly transferred to the corporate arena.

As a leader you have to set an example. By showing a strong work ethic you will reap the rewards and have a positive effect on the people around you. Just like in sports, the more time and effort you put in, the more you will get out, and the more likely you are to succeed. And like a rower training at 6am in the dead of winter, sometimes businesses can be cold and lonely places and seem a long way from your ultimate goal.

It is important to take small steps. Keep you and your staff motivated by breaking down your “big hairy goals” into little bite size chunks or short term targets. This is a tried, tested, and true technique for athletes training towards a goal that can at times be daunting and seem unachievable.

In terms of teamwork, trust is key in top performing teams. Like in football, each individual on the team has to trust each other so that they can perform well and win together as a team and this concept also applies for business. A great team can pull together and compensate for possible weaknesses in some areas. So it is important to make sure everyone knows their roles and understands them.
Trust in your leader is huge. Both businesses and sports teams need strong leadership, but also total faith in their leaders throughout the entire team. There will always be disagreements but for the dynamics to work and be in synch, everyone must trust the leader’s judgment and decisions.