Being Confident Through Sports

Leaders serve others better when they demonstrate confidence, commitment and clarity. These attributes complement other core competencies like decisiveness, creative problem solving, taking the initiative, pro-activeness and being fair.

Competitive sports allow us to bring out the best and the worst in our leadership potential. Individual sports and team sports have different orientations in how we relate to others. A triathlete, marathoner or weightlifter performs by himself, and his performance is dependent on his results. The training and post-race celebration calls upon others, so that we connect with others on a more social and less competitive platform. We become more adept at adapting to unfamiliar surroundings, and relating to strangers. Our confidence is fuelled with each new connection and contact with another person.

Sign up for a 10km race, an open water swim, biathlon, half-marathon, marathon, Olympic distance triathlon, half-Ironman triathlon, or Ironman triathlon. I endeavour to complete two Ironman triathlons and a marathon, every year; these events give me stronger reasons to train regularly and with focus. Above all, each completion of an event bolsters my confidence and feeds my self-esteem. I appreciate a personal and shared sense of achievement and accomplishment. Friends and family add meaning to these personal milestones.

Train hard, and race harder. You may get to engage some of these skill sets and competencies of leader. Challenge yourself and succeed, and enjoy your confidence.

Photo: Post-race camaraderie with seasoned ultra-marathoners from SGRunners and Mount Faber Runners (100 Plus Passion Run 2010).