Why Practice Matters: Lessons from Athletes to Business Leaders #1

Ever wondered why athletes devote countless hours to practice while business executives often

prepare only briefly for critical meetings? Athletes spend days honing their skills through physical practice, film analysis, and strategic meetings, all to excel in a 2-3 hour game. In contrast, business leaders typically spend minutes on agendas and a few hours on slide decks, rarely practicing their delivery or tailoring their message.

If these observations hold true, does better practice indeed yield better results?

As one of our Kansas City Chiefs participants shared, “Leadership is a muscle. If you’re not actively strengthening it, you’re allowing it to weaken.” The key to enhancing leadership lies in repetitive practice—constantly striving to improve while acknowledging both your strengths and weaknesses. Our work with athletes and business execs is focused on personal growth and practice. Using the wisdom in the room, our clients grow their perspectives on how to handle unique leadership opportunities. They are then challenged to practice their new perspective at work and at home. When the group meets again, these same participants share their victories inspiring their teammates. The component of practice leads to real change, real fast. It’s amazing how people can feel in control and empowered when they share their growth and their results. A participant at the Tennessee Titans noted, “It gave me the spark to jump into what I need to be my best self.” Often we can feel participants rededicate themselves to better leadership as they let go of their old ways.

If it’s true that we all have old ways that we’re holding on to (and some of these old habits actually get in the way) what would you like to let go of? Maybe it’s a point of pride, judgment, a lack of forgiveness, an outdated process? It can be a simple or small habit or something much bigger. Most likely as you read this, you know what you’d like to change about yourself.