If you are in leadership, you probably face many challenges on a regular basis. As a leader, you must determine how to overcome those challenges. Just as leaders face challenges, Olympians also face challenges in reaching their goals and winning their competitions.
With the Olympics just underway, there are many people everywhere that are glued to their television. All the Olympians are leaders in their event because they have obtained a level of excellence. They have learned how to face challenges and overcome them. The challenges that athletes face are, in many ways, different than those faced by business leaders or leaders in other aspects of life, but there are leadership lessons to be learned and applied to all aspects of leadership.
Hard Work
Every Olympian has worked hard to master their event. They have gone through many hours of practice and have put in a lot of extra time to succeed. They understand that nothing worth obtaining comes easy or without a price. That price is hard work.
Great leaders also understand the importance of hard work. They understand that their success will come as they put forth a great amount of effort. Leaders know that if they don’t work hard they won’t get the desired results for which they hope. Hard work is a key to success.
Dedication
Olympians have learned that they must be dedicated to what they do. Many of them have to dedicate their whole lives to their particular event. They know that if they work hard, but only give half their effort or are only somewhat dedicated, they won’t be successful. Olympians know that they must be dedicated to make their dreams a reality.
In leadership, you also must be dedicated to accomplish your goals. As a leader, you can’t be successful at any one thing if you are always bouncing back and forth from one thing to the next. In order to be successful, you must be dedicated.
Stamina
In line with dedication, Olympic athletes must have stamina. Stamina is enduring energy, strength, and resilience and is a key to the success of the Olympians. Olympians can’t get discouraged when things don’t go their way. They understand that even though everything doesn’t go perfect or always as planned, they must have the stamina to keep going.
In leadership, you must also have a great amount of stamina. As a leader, you will face challenges and discouragement, but you must push through it to be successful. You must understand that if you have the stamina to continue through the challenges, you will find success.
And A Little Luck…
All of the Olympians have worked very hard, been dedicated, and had stamina, but they have all needed a little bit of luck. Although there are many factors within each Olympian’s control, there are also factors outside their control. To overcome those factors, they need a little bit of luck.
In leadership, you also have many things outside your control. There are many calculated risks that you must take as you lead others and your organization. As you take those risks, you must have a little bit of luck to be successful. That luck shows through when every expectation you had came to fruition. Without that luck you may not see your success.
Conclusion
As you watch the Olympics over the next two weeks, try to find examples of leadership from those competing. Listen closely to the stories from the Olympians and see how their examples can be translated into your leadership.
What leadership lessons have you learned from the Olympians? How has their example touched you and changed you as a leader? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below!
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