Our own Rio regime
Isn’t it inspiring to witness someone totally committed to what they do, totally dedicated, overwhelmingly passionate. There’s something seductive and magnetic about it.
Of course, this stuff is front and centre for me right now because of the Olympics. I love sport. It connects with my soul like little else. Given my ultra-competitive nature (I know it’s not pretty at times) I have, over the years, been thrilled by the successes of the athletes and teams I favour.
Connecting with dedication…
Yet I’ve noticed a shift in my attention with Rio 2016, an appreciation beyond partiality. I find myself connecting with the deep dedication of the athletes – all of them, not just the winners – to their practise…you know all the stuff we don’t get to see. The hours of slog, the early starts, the hour upon hour of repetition, the torrents of feedback (often from less than qualified critics), the sacrifice of anything that looks like a normal life to the rest of us.
Of course the ability to inspire and dedication to our craft aren’t just for athletes or others so obviously in the public eye. As leaders we have the opportunity too…to dedicate ourselves to polishing our craft of leadership, to find our passion for leading people, to nurture it and ensure it’s expressed in our behaviours with those we’re responsible for.
Privilege and the hard yards…
Being clear about what it means to us – the privilege of leadership – and obviously putting the hard yards in to be good at it and ever improving send a powerful message to our colleagues.
What I’m reviewing now is what my hard yards regime for my leadership is. What else do I need to do and how will that help me inspire others? Perhaps, in the spirit of Rio, I can encourage you to do the same.