Stephen H Baum Leadership

What can we learn from Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps? 

Media coverage of Phelps’ exploits and of his mother’s support has been extensive. But for those of us seeking to become better leaders of our own lives and those of our family, our community and the organizations where we work there is real juice in his “learning moments.”

For one thing, there is serendipity — an unexpected adversity which became an advantage. Phelps broke his wrist. Unable to use his arms, at first he saw this as “the end.” But with encouragement from his coach, he spent months swimming with only his legs as propulsion. Coach Bowman believes this contributed to Phelps’ superior performance in Beijing. Has this happened to you? Have you stepped back and figured out how to put adversity to good advantage? Has a guardian angel counseled you to persevere? So many leaders, chief executives and business owners I know have suffered setbacks only to recover, learn and move on the better for the setback.

For another, there is focus — determining to work through an unexpected  challenge by being resourceful. Phelps’ goggles gradually filled with water in the final laps of a swim. As he put it, things happen and you have to be ready to deal with them. And he did. Reminding himself of the number of strokes he takes to do a length of the pool and counting strokes to estimate where he would hit the wall. 

Finally, there is knowing the environment in which you best flourish and working it to improve everything about yourself. Phelps out of the water was a fish out of water. ADHD. Physical clumsiness. Teased and bullied by other kids. But in the water, he was at home. And it is there that he built strength and self-confidence, setting and achieving ever-more-difficult goals. What is the environment where you will best flourish? What defines it (an industry? a type of position? the kind of people with you spend your days?)? 

Sports offer us not only entertainment, but also instruction for life. Don’t waste even the vicarious lessons.