It’s been pointed out time and time again that the sporting and corporate worlds have a lot of crossover. From both needing essential characteristics such as drive and discipline in order to thrive, to the fact that it’s well reported that many leaders have engaged with sports at some point in their lives. Research shows 94% of women who hold C-suite positions are former athletes and 80% of female Fortune 500 executives played competitive sports at one point in their lives. Azania Stewart, Former British Basketball Player and London 2012 Olympian, is a friend of the brand Tissot, our Step Forward partner, who brings sport and femininity together with a selection of bold yet elegant timepieces. Azania shares with AllBright the leadership skills we can take from athletes into our workplaces in order to become better leaders. 

Time-keeping 

Time-keeping could be brushed aside as a small detail in the wider picture of qualities that make up a good leader. However, in a time where leaders are always looking for new ways to be efficient and get more done in less time, this quality can be the difference between a leader that thrives and one that cannot drive initiatives forward. Azania recalls the saying ‘if you are on time, then you are late'; that has stuck with her throughout her whole basketball career. She shares that “the importance of not only being on time, but being early, sets the tone. It shows you are prepared, focused and value others' time. Timekeeping is crucial for efficiency, productivity, and success. It ensures deadlines are met, schedules are followed, and opportunities are seized. Punctuality reflects professionalism and reliability, fostering trust in personal and professional relationships.”

Discipline 

As we entered 2024 and turned over a new leaf, we witnessed millions of people around the world trying to gain a sense of renewed motivation to achieve their goals, be that personal or professional. However, there is a well known saying by ancient philosopher Aristotle that "we are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." With this in mind, to cultivate the habits that will help us become successful in our chosen endeavour, good leaders must have a good sense of discipline. This is something Azania feels passionately about and is exemplified in the way she runs a mentoring basketball club in a secondary school that meets at 7:45am before the school day has even begun. She says “I'm able to teach the kids/group discipline which is the biggest fundamental in basketball for both individual players and the team. It involves adhering to [a] training regiment and maintaining focus during practice/class.” 

Teamwork and collaboration

‘Teamwork’ and ‘collaboration’ are often key words we look for when reviewing CV’s, and it’s no surprise because studies have found that 86% of employees cite lack of collaboration or ineffective communications as the main source of workplace failures. Another study of 1,250 companies found that being able to collaborate was a defining characteristic of high performing leadership teams. 

In her experience, Azania knows that playing and being part of a team enhances collaboration by emphasising communication, shared goals, and mutual support. “I learn to rely on my teammates/coaches, appreciate diverse skills, and understand the value of coordinated effort, fostering a deeper understanding of collaboration that extends beyond the sports arena and builds a life long relationship.” These lessons on the field can translate into qualities that can help leaders thrive, so whether it's bringing in lessons from athletic teams we’ve already been part of or learning from practices in the sporting world, the power of understanding how to work well in and with a team, cannot be underestimated.

Dealing with success and failure 

Azania believes that sports can teach the ability to handle success and failure, even from a young age and that we should be encouraging participation in sports to instil this valuable lesson.  As well as being a good life skill, being able to ride the ups and down in a business setting creates impactful leaders. It is the reason that many athletes have gone on to become very successful in their business ventures. For example, Michael Jordan, who is the most lucrative NBA player of all time is quoted, in the book Nike Culture: The Sign of the Swoosh, as saying "I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I've been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." Knowing that success is intertwined with failure and being able to persevere are attributes any good leader seeks to have. 

It’s clear that through embracing essential lessons from sportspeople, individuals can not only become better leaders but also contribute to building a culture of resilience, collaboration, and success in their respective workplaces.

Unlock the potential within, synchronise your leadership skills, and stride toward success with Tissot. Explore the T-Touch Connect Sport collection embodying precision, style and modernity to empower women to have the confidence to navigate their unique path with unwavering focus.