WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM LONDON 2012? I’ve read several articles on lessons to be learned from London 2012, here’s my take on it.
A Big Project Needs an Inspiring Vision. Sebastian Coe’s vision for London 2012 was short, crisp and breathtakingly ambitious, ‘Best Games ever’. Few would disagree that this has been achieved, and in a very British way, with humour, tolerance and patience. The power of this vision to galvanise people into action and inspire excellence has been truly remarkable. Are you inspired by your vision for your business or career?
There is No Substitute for Planning and Preparation. The success of Team GB cyclists is based on ‘the aggregation of marginal gains’. Before the first cycling final in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Team GB cycling coaches asked each other if there was anything else they could have done to improve the probability of success – they all answered ‘no’ and the rest is history. Do you plan and prepare for success or merely ‘hit and hope’?
Goal Setting is a Powerful Aid to Success. When the 2012 Games were awarded to London, an 11 year old boy drew a picture of a high diving board with the Olympic Rings beside it. No wonder that Tom Daley, now 18 years old, was so delighted with his bronze medal in the Diving Pool. He had set his goal very clearrly and taken responsibility for making it happen. Properly done, goal setting is an amazingly effective tool to achieve what you really want in all areas of your life, business and career. What are your goals and do you take responsibility for them?
Positive Thinking Boosts Performance. It’s easy for doubts to enter the minds of even the best athletes. After his defeat by Jamaican teammate Yohan Blake earlier this year, even Usain Bolt had doubts over his ability and the fact that he doesn’t always lead a race from the early stages. His coach told him to stop worrying about the start of a race because, ‘the best part of your race is the end.’ It worked and Bolt was playing to the cameras right up until he took his marks for the 100m final – no sign of any negativity there. Are you thinking negatively about what you can’t do, or positively about what you can?
Losing is the Gateway to Winning. The downside of winning as that someone has to lose and guess what all those winners have done many times before they won? That’s right, they lost. Losing is a key part of learning and while it’s easy to be downbeat after a loss, it’s only feedback, not failure. And, with the right attitude, losing can be used as motivation to improve and become a winner. Victoria Pendleton was disqualified from a gold medal winning position. She put it behind her and went on to win gold and silver medals. What was your last setback and are you using it for motivation?
Passion is the Magic Ingredient of Winners. Lord Coe told us to prepare to be ‘amazed…inspired… [and] moved’ by the performance of the paralympians – he was right. Angeles Hernandez won gold in the F57/58 Shot Put with a new world record and said, ‘You can do anything you want if you work hard. If you do it with love, passion and discipline and support, then it is possible.’ The achievements of the paralympians have shown us that anything is possible – will we ever be able to think of disability in the same way again? Are you following your passions?
Giving is Cool and Makes You Happy. The loudest cheers at both the Olympic and Paralympic closing ceremonies were for the Games Makers, the volunteers who gave their time and guided, greeted and entertained millions of visitors to all those events. They did it to give, not to take, and in the process found fun, friends and huge satisfaction, as well as earning our respect and admiration. Giving is one of the 10 keys to happiness and it’s a great British tradition, long before the phrase, ‘Big Society’ was coined. Are you a giver or a taker, and which mindset makes you more successful and happy?
These are my lessons from London 2012 – I’d love to hear yours.
Ross Nichols
Business Mentor and Coach
This article first appeared on LinkedIn Group, ‘Career Transition UK South’.