The arrival of Wimbeldon Championship Tennis in London every year reminds me of leaders who see the big picture. Maybe it’s the way that Wimbeldon champions like Pete Sampras, Steffi Graf, Venus Williams, and Serena Williams make the game look so effortless.
Regardless, I marvel when Wimbeldon kicks off knowing that I will see some remarkable action, strategies, and tactics on the court. Look at that record-breaking first-round match last week that went 10 hours of play!
Just like the principles in my book Leadership Building Blocks: An Insider’s Guide to Success, these super-athletes take charge of the predictable and the unexpected. They scope out next steps and meet each opponent with a deep fervor and swift action. In the same way, leaders must have the strength to do the same.
1. Pause – Every tennis player takes a moment to consider a course of action. He or she stops at the moment – even if for a few seconds – to make a decision. Tenacious leaders should also take heed following this important step. Author David Kundtz sums it up best in one of my favorite books, Stopping:
“Stopping is taking notice of the space between the notes. Stopping is making the space between the notes important. Stopping is transforming the space between the notes into life-giving, waking up and remembering.”
2. Evaluate – Great tennis players take stock of any action. It’s as if tennis pros take inventory of the ripple effect that might follow. They do! In the same way, leaders must evaluate circumstances, issues, benchmarks, and other considerations when making decisions. This way, there is a thorough analysis and vetting of any issue.
3. Examine – Once a player executes his or her tennis shot then there is a time for brief reflection. This is a time to take a step back and look at the outcome of the decision made and adjust accordingly. What’s great is that most of the pros quickly re-group if there were unforced errors showing the rest of us how to examine and keep going.
Thank goodness Wimbeldon coming around every year gives leaders and sports enthusiasts alike the opportunity to glean valuable lessons from the wide world of sports.
