How to play like an athlete in your field of business

Adopting the mindset and strategies of an athlete can be a game changer in the world of business. As a former professional rugby player and entrepreneur, I want to share with you how to be a “Student of the Game,” with three key strategies that have helped me succeed through change both on and off the field; I like to call them “The 3 A’s”.

1. Be Accountable

Our goal was always to win in rugby. But every other team was trying to do the same thing. So we would always ask ourselves: “How can we do something different? And how can we be accountable for that?”

We committed to the concept of The Domino Effect. Just like dominos have the power to topple objects 50% larger than themselves, we broke down our goal of winning the Premiership into individual objectives.

Research shows you are 39% more likely to achieve a goal if you write it down and 76% more likely to reach them if you tell someone about it. So we put each player’s photo on the wall alongside two measurable areas of improvement. It might sound daunting at first, but trust me; making these marginal gains public will put you in the best position to succeed.

To implement accountability in your business, start by setting measurable targets. Write them down and share them with a colleague, mentor, or your team. Regularly review your progress, discuss whether you’re hitting your targets, what obstacles you face, and how to improve. By creating a culture of accountability, you’ll be better positioned to achieve your goals and drive your business forward.

• Be Authentic
  
  Throughout my career, I’ve worked with remarkable rugby coaches such as Eddie Jones, Stuart Lancaster and Conor O’Shea. Although each coach had their own style, they all encouraged me to be authentic. It’s a balance that allows you to embrace different perspectives and approaches without losing your own identity.
  
  To be authentic in your business, focus on understanding yourself and your core values. Embrace your strengths and be transparent about your weaknesses. By being authentic, you will forge genuine connections and develop effective leadership that resonates with your team.
  
• Be Adaptable
  
  No game is ever the same in sport, so you must be able to adapt. In training, we would create scenarios so we could practise for anything that happened on the pitch.
  
  Let’s say our hooker (the person who throws the ball in) is sin-binned (sent to an area off the field for 10 minutes for rule-breaking), and there are only 10 minutes left of the game. Instead of crumbling under pressure, another player would take over because we’ve practised this scenario in training many times before.
  
  The same applies to business. When you pitch or present, what strategies do you have in place if something doesn’t go to plan? Always practise taking the reins so you can step in if someone is off sick or away. This is what we call being a “Student of the Game.” Be willing to learn, hungry for knowledge, and continue to improve.
  
  By adopting the mindset and principles of athletes in your field of business, you can elevate your performance, achieve success and be resilient to change.
  
• First, embrace accountability by setting measurable targets, sharing them with others, and reviewing your progress.
• Next, be authentic by understanding your core values, embracing your strengths, and being transparent about your weaknesses.
• Lastly, be adaptable and prepare for unexpected circumstances by practising different scenarios and being ready to step in when plans change. This is how I became a “Student of the Game” – and how you can too.