Exploring the Path to Excellence: Psychological Habits from Pro Sports to Business Success
"Excellence" is not an accident, but one of the most interesting topics in a competitive environment, like business. At Loidold & Partners, we consistently face the challenge of identifying the best possible leaders or crucial professionals for specific business contexts, not only in our Executive Search Recruitment processes. The task isn't just about finding out who brings capapabilities to the table that can lead to excellence, but also determining who can perform excellent in a particular environment. This challenge mirrors what we see in elite sports whenever we switch on the TV or attend an arena. We do observe excellence in their respective fields. This is not only about talent, it’s about how well an individual or team adapts to the circumstances they face.
In this article, we explore what business leaders can learn from world champions in sports. At lease we strive a super interesting and deep going topic, with extrapolating some traits. The psychological habits that enable repeated success provide valuable insights into how leaders can foster excellence within their organizations.
1. Contextual Excellence: Understanding Team Dynamics
In team sports like football or basketball, success depends not only on individual talent but also on how well the team works together. Studies show that successful teams exhibit high network density - frequent and meaningful interactions between players. However, too much density can stifle flexibility and creativity.
Take Barcelona’s famous "Tiki-Taka" strategy under Pep Guardiola, for example. The system relied on short, precise passes, but it also allowed players enough freedom to create game-changing moments. For business leaders, the lesson can be clear: structure and communication are crucial, but there must be enough flexibility for innovation and adaptability.
2. Leadership and Motivation: The Steve Kerr Approach
Golden State Warriors (and US Men's National Basketball) coach Steve Kerr offers a fantastic example of how democratic leadership can drive success, in the context of their team setup. Kerr’s ability to give players like Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson ownership of decisions on the court has been central to the team’s achievements. Research supports this approach, showing that democratic leadership fosters greater motivation and satisfaction within teams.
.In business, this translates into giving team members the autonomy to lead initiatives and make decisions. This not only boosts morale but also encourages innovation and engagement.
3. The Power of Passion: Novak Đoković’s Mental Resilience
In individual sports, passion and mental strength are key drivers of success. Novak Đoković has spoken openly about the role of mental training in his career, including mindfulness, visualization techniques, and emotional regulation. His mental resilience enables him to stay focused and composed during the most intense moments in a match.
For business leaders, the takeaway is the importance of emotional resilience and the ability to maintain composure under pressure. Especially when we talk to CEOs or other senior leaders, they describe situations like Đoković does, of standing alone "on the court" and under massive pressure, that comes from the match situation but also from the crowd. Just as Đoković uses mental techniques to succeed in high-stakes situations, leaders can develop and focus on emotional intelligence as well, to navigate challenges calmly and make sound decisions when the pressure is on. Improving mental resilience is only possible when trained.
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4. Repeating Success: Lukas Podolski’s Consistent Impact
Lukas Podolski may not have been the flashiest player on the field, but his enthusiasm and positivity were infectious. His role in the German national team and at FC Cologne ( 1. FC Köln ), especially during World Cups, shows that success is not just about technical skill - it’s also about maintaining high levels of motivation and team spirit over time, that can truely "move mountains".
Lukas has just played his farewell game and has also been showered with sympathy from his former teams in Germany, Turkey and Poland. It is fair to say that his style has led to long-term respect and standing. In addition, Lukas has brought his talents not only to his family but also to entrepreneurship in the hospitality sector.
Leaders in business can learn from Lukas that sometimes, it’s not the "star player" who makes the biggest impact, but the individual who inspires and supports the team. Motivation, enthusiasm and consistency can have a profound effect on the performance of an entire organization.
5. Excellence is Contextual, Not Universal
One of the most important lessons from elite sports is that there is no "one-size-fits-all" formula for excellence. Just as the requirements for success in football differ from those in tennis, the traits needed to excel in one business context may not apply in another. An individual perspective is required. Business leaders must not only recognize a candidate’s potential but also understand how that potential fits into the specific company environment.
At Loidold & Partners, we place significant emphasis on this approach. We don’t just assess the individual; we evaluate the organizational context to ensure a perfect fit between talent and environment.
Final Takeaways
To summarize, here are a few key insights business leaders can take from world-class athletes:
These are just a few of the many insights we can draw from the psychology of excellence in sports. Excellence is a vast and nuanced topic, and understanding its application in both sports and business requires an in-depth understanding of context and adaptability.