Recently I spent a week with my son and his team at the national karate championships. it has always intrigued me how much we can learn from sport, as leaders. Sport really seems to have nailed working as a team. Karate is ordinarily considered an individual sport. Ultimately, you are on the mat on your own against an opponent.
What struck me was, you wouldn’t be there without the great training mates who every day push you to achieve your best, your coach who provides the strategies for the match, your team mates who cheer you on and your coach calling instructions, your team mates are the first to give you a high five after a win or give you a hug and remind you there is always next time, if you lose.
Although it is an individual sport, the competitors definitely wouldn’t be there without their team and it definitely wouldn’t be as much fun!
How is it we can get it so right in kids sport but when we grow up and enter the business world, we forget all we have learnt?
In business, we will always be more successful working as a team, having people to bounce ideas off, bringing more than one mind to the table, supporting one another to provide a great product or service, having a leader who encourages everyone to work together.
So next time you are driving your children to sport and feeling like a taxi, stop and reflect and see what you can learn as a leader.