Business Is a Sport: Perform Like an Athlete and Build a Championship Team
Article Summary: Treating business like a sport changes everything. Become a “business-athlete” and take these three actions: clarify your purpose, commit to skill development, and manage your energy.
You’ll also learn how to motivate your team with clarity and authority. If you are an executive or entrepreneur ready to compete at a higher level, this article will help you get better results and build a higher performing organization.
Why Business is Like Sports
Business is competitive in the same way as sports. There is a game to be played and there is a prize. And a lot of players want that prize. You are forced to level up because the competition compels you to do so.
In my coaching business, I work with executives, entrepreneurs, and athletes. Across these worlds the pattern is consistent: those who work hard and work smart tend to win. Those who settle for mediocrity tend to lose.
The more business leaders can embrace the attitudes of athletes and sports teams, the better results they’ll get.
Watch the Video - Business is a Sport
The Three Pillars of the Business-Athlete
1. Know Your Purpose
High performing athletes have a clear mission. They know why they train, why they sacrifice, and why winning is important.
As a business leader you also need a clear mission, one that guides when times are tough. This is not one of those framed mission statements that collect dust on the back wall of the board room. This is your own personal inward-facing mission statement that rings true for you.
Write down your mission statement. Why do you want to win at business? Include practical reasons like compensation and career growth, and also deeper reasons like impact and legacy.
2. Skill Development
Talent is valuable but it’s not a substitute for training. In sports the best athletes keep training even when they’re at the top. The same applies in business. Block time on your calendar for skill development.
Some suggestions for upping your skill level:
- Get a coach or mentor who will challenge you.
- Join a high performing peer group or attend leadership summits.
- Pick one uncomfortable skill to work on, such as public speaking, negotiation, or people management.
These deliberate investments in your skillset compound and keep you competitive.
3. Manage Your Energy
Energy is your most finite resource. I recommend you take a simple inventory: write down two columns, one for “energy boosters” and one for “energy drainers.” Then eliminate or delegate the drainers and schedule in more of the boosters.
These drainers and boosters can be tasks or people. Guard your energy and keep your vibe positive.
Another way to keep your energy high is to create an intentional morning routine. Things like reflecting on gratitude or your ideal customer get you primed for the day.
You can also identify times when you have performed at your best replicate the conditions. Ask yourself what you were doing and who you were with when your energy was high, and you felt confident, creative and decisive.
Run Your Business Team like a Top Sports Franchise
Teams win when individual excellence is organized into a clear, purpose-driven system. Here are some of the team-oriented strategies I use in my coaching with executives and business owners.
1. Motivate Your Team Using Trust and Competitive Compensation
Talent costs money. If your salaries or incentives are not competitive, you will eventually lose your best players. Beyond the money aspect, people also want to contribute and feel valued. Create roles that allow autonomy and inspire innovation.
2. Make Roles and Responsibilities Crystal Clear
Sports teams have defined positions for a reason. Overlapping roles creates confusion. A classic example is in baseball when an overzealous outfielder runs out of his zone and literally collides with his teammate.
As a business leader you need to map out zones of responsibility and make roles crystal clear. Clarity reduces employees’ anxiety and increases productivity.
3. Lead with Authority, Not Authoritarianism
In sports and in business, hierarchy and authority provide something called psychological safety. This is a state of mind where players or employees understand who is responsible for what and there’s no guessing about who’s in charge. This reduces anxiety and allows people to focus on performance.
Authority is not dictatorship. It’s executive decision making, and the willingness to make the tough calls.
Some Leadership Actions You Can Take Today
Now let’s apply what we’ve talked about. Do these exercises and commit to following through on them.
For you as a leader:
- Write a one-paragraph mission statement and keep it where you’ll see it daily.
- Choose one skill to develop and take a course or connect with a coach.
- Remove one energy drainer and add one energy booster into your weekly routine.
For your team:
- Identify your top performer and your lowest performer. Define the behaviors that separate them and work on boosting your low performers or letting them go.
- Make one decision this week that increases your authority. Communicate it clearly and follow through.
- Audit compensation and incentives. Adjust one element to better retain or attract talent.
Common Leadership Blocks
Many leaders try these strategies and still struggle because of engrained patterns of behavior. Things like micromanaging, conflict avoidance or people-pleasing can sabotage your leadership. If you have some of these blocks (and many leaders do), work with a mentor or coach to address them.
Next Steps
If you want a structured roadmap to implement some of the things in this article, I run a free master class that helps leaders identify hidden blocks and build a plan to lead with authority and clarity.
Enroll here: Masterclass - Business is a Sport
For tailored coaching that builds executives and entrepreneurs into high performers, apply here: Schedule a Consultation
Final Thought
Thinking of business like a sport is not common. Your peers and colleagues may feel uncomfortable if you start employing some of the strategies we talked about in this article. That’s okay.
Anytime you up your game, others will be a little unsettled. Why? Because the bar has been raised, and that means it’s time to level up. But that’s how the game is played! Enjoy the game.
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