Leaders: When did you last take apart your game? Forehand, backhand, lob and volley..
Wimbledon time again: For me it’s a pleasure to see that some “proper” tennis play has returned to the game whereas for a period it was simply an exchange of aces. As the battle of fitness, strategy and skill unfolds the coach supporting from the stand is unpicking their performance ready for the locker room review. It’s been a great tournament so far – illustrating that past performance and world seeding is no guarantee of success.
In sport we expect the player to employ professionals so that they can be at their very best, whilst in business we might raise an eyebrow if coach, mentor and consultant attended each of our team meetings or Board presentation performances – there are perhaps some lessons to be borrowed.
No doubt if you have been drawn to read this article, you have already confronted the brutal fact; if you don’t develop as a leader, your skills will atrophy over time and your team and your results will suffer. Time to identify which areas of your game to work on as a priority. A reflective moment on the skill elements of our personal leadership approach.
Your serve (how set yourself up for success): Rapport and listening: without these, you are not even on the same court.
Your forehand (how do you establish your position): Inspiring: Advocate something in a way that links to a vision and is attractive
Your backhand (how do you position yourself to respond with power and determination): Convincing: Persuading through research and rationale
Your volley (how do you cut through the complexity to get to the heart of the matter) : Asserting your agenda, helping others see the significance
Your lob (how to move the conversation to a different area of the court): Insightful questioning – connects you to what is really going on and allows you to create surprise and movement, or break out of an unhelpful flow in a conversation.
1. These are the core elements - Go ahead and rate yourself on them /10.
2. Next think about the other elements, which you can be curious about. What does the smash represent in leadership, and how would you rate your smash? How do you see the drop shot, and do you use it with precision in your game? What does the net, the ball represent? What happens when the ball does not make it over the net?
3. How adaptable are you with the skills you have. The more versatile you are as a leader, the better your strategy can be. The more you respond and choose carefully what your next move is on the court, the better the result of your game. Which move do you overuse? Which could you try more?
It’s important to remember that tennis is a game of opposition. In my view of leadership the tournament is won when we play our game for the greater good of all, in collaboration.
What’s your view? Where does the metaphor work for you, and where does it break down? How did you find this as a reflective exercise?