The Parallels Between Sport and Business
Running around Thanet, training for my next Half Marathon, I was thinking to myself that those business people who have never taken to sport may have missed out on some vital life lessons.
I was never really that good at any sport at school. It was all spoilt in my first year when I twisted my ankle in a freak accident in football trials and I never really recovered from that. It took me a while and sheer accident to find my niche.
The niche, I found, was Martial arts where I trained heavily, studied meticulously and earned myself a Blackbelt. I even got to teach, which was a pleasure in itself. The other niche that I am now following is road running, which I took up only a year ago.
I can see the parallels that run between sport and business and know that anyone that actively partakes in any sport can receive many benefits to improve not only their personal outlook, but their business lives as well.
Teamwork
There is nothing like sport to show you how to work together as a team, to work hard and trust in each other abilities
Networking skills
Both on and off the field, you learn how to interact with people from all walks of life...the best contacts are sometimes to be made in the bar.
Targets
To improve in either sport or business you need to set targets. You need clear goals and a plan of action of how to achieve success.
Self motivation
A sportsperson such as a swimmer, gymnast or athlete needs tremendous self motivation to get up at an ungodly hour to put the training session in, knowing that colleagues will be snuggling up in the comfort of their own beds.
Fitness of body, fitness of mind
Having an active, fit body lends itself to having and active brain. Those that are in the habit of training before breakfast tend to be in the right mindset and have the right energy levels for the day.
Leadership skills
Who would you trust? Someone with good qualifications or someone who has skippered a crew across an ocean, possibly a person who people trust to make the right call.
Attention to detail
It is important to cover all angles in sport and business to ensure success. Attention to logistics, preparation, diet, tactics and training regime are all important.
Professionalism
Sport isn't very forgiving. Unlike business life, where some people can shirk responsibility or place blame, the performance and results on a sports field are for all to see. The norm, I find, is for a sportsman to hold up their hands and say that they got it wrong.
Discipline
Very much like motivation, it takes a lot of courage not to take the short cut and forego pleasures...knowing that the impose sacrifices will provide success in the future. A lot of people entering business could learn from this.
As you can see, there are some active parallels between sport and business. I suppose, if I was looking to employ someone today, especially someone junior, I would definitely look on the CV in their hobbies section to see if they are active human beings or merely couch potatoes.
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Ian Lockyer
www.easimarketing.com