Leadership Through Sports

I have had the pleasure to meet many leaders in sports. Within the endurance sports community, I am friends with many encouraging and inspiring personalities.

Despite the fact that the sport of cycling and racing overseas constitute the largest cost to this long-haul sport, the sport is relatively inexpensive. There are a significant number of PMETs as there are youths and students.

Leaders emerge from the packs by leading in training sessions in the swim, ride and run. I have had a youth rider leading a small pack of aging masters-class triathletes in short evening rides. We have older riders lead the younger ones; the leaders switch position like they do in the peloton of the Tour de France. On our Saturday open-water swims at Sentosa Island, our stronger and experienced swimmers organize, coach and lead the lagoon swim.

The leaders in running set the pace, and hopefully sustain it. Sometimes, the shorter distance specialist lead. Other times, the marathoner does. Patience and purpose are integral to the process.

Leaders lead in their competencies. They demonstrate their prowess through their skills, confidence and experience. And this prowess can be developed through coaching, practice, training and rehearsals. It may take time, yet patience will invariably pay off. Building substance, reputation and credibility requires time and evidence. It is evident that staff need convincing as they do persuasion.

Sometimes, leaders know when to rescind or surrender the position, without losing the challenge or game. If we are to believe the plea or credo of sports: winning isn’t everything. Or, is it the only thing?

Lead with your head, heart and hands.


Photo: Leading the pack with my packets. My race attire was the talk of the Sundown Marathon. Those were not toothpaste, but energy gels in a new packaging. Surprisingly, I qualified for the NF100 race with this seemingly bizarre set-up.

Update: Vin Diesel in the Disney film ‘Pacifier’ can be seen with a waist-belt similar to mine, except it has fruity drinks and milk-bottles.