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Business lessons from a professional sportsman

The Paris Olympics is well underway, but between flimsy cardboard beds and an opening ceremony longer than your GP’s waitlist, it’s safe to say that this competition won’t be short on headlines. What has already been a great show of athleticism, camaraderie, and togetherness reminded me of an episode of the Lunch at Work podcast where A ntony Prentice sat down with Neil McLaurin, ex-professional cricketer turned business leader. Neil shared fascinating parallels between his experiences as a professional sportsman and business. Here are 4 of his insights I found most valuable

1. Great teams require great leaders

In both sport and business, success hinges on the ability of the team to work together towards a common goal. You have a range of diverse individuals who each bring their own various skills to the team, but it’s the captain who brings out the best in each player, which makes them successful.

Whether that leader is a captain, a manager, a director, or managing director, their position requires vision and the ability to inspire and motivate their team

2. The importance of communication

Think of it like coaching a football team: all players need to be on the same page to work effectively together. If some players think your formation is a 4-3-3 but you’re actually playing a 4-4-2, everyone’s going to be butting heads! Communication is crucial for ensuring that all stakeholders understand and commit to the company’s vision and goals.

However, communication isn’t always straightforward. Take business strategy, for instance. Simply telling a team member the strategy won’t automatically make them embrace it. You need to introduce the plan in a team meeting, discuss it during one-on-one sessions, mention it in emails, and perhaps post about it on your intranet, gathering feedback from your team throughout the process. This helps the whole organisation feel involved and more likely to buy into the goal.

3. Supporting and developing talent

Having a successful business today is great, but having sustained success over time is the ultimate goal. It’s the reason that football clubs have teams for players as young as six years old! We often find young talent who are great at what they do. They will outgrow their role and want to get their teeth stuck into something more challenging. It’s our responsibility as a business to nurture that talent and help find the path that brings out the best in them. If not, they will find their challenge elsewhere. I recently came across a company who has a ‘don’t quit’ policy. Their approach is to find you another role that will provide you with fulfilment.

4. Culture

Gary Player previously emphasised the importance of perseverance: “The harder you work, the luckier you get.” When it comes to culture, BM have been on a lucky streak since 2000!

The term culture is common in most businesses and for good reason. It’s the unspoken code of conduct that dictates how people treat each other, how they approach their work, and how they feel about being part of the team. The impact of a strong and positive culture is mammoth.

Positive things happen when a company’s culture is good. The “me-first” attitude fades away and collaboration becomes the norm. Team members play for each other, not just for themselves. Knowledge and resources are shared. Blame fades away. Colleagues are more likely to step in and help when someone is struggling. Problems are tackled collectively. Team members feel fulfilled and happy in their roles. And the best part? Positivity is contagious.

Whether you’re in the dressing room or the boardroom, the advice is the same. Have a great leader, communicate reciprocally, develop your talent, and create a positive culture. As Richard Branson says: “Train people well enough so they can leave, treat them well enough so they don’t want to.”