An Agile look at the Olympics.

The Olympics bring out the sports nerd in me.  I can sit for hours watching events I never get a chance to see.  I fell in love with curling watching the Olympics, and I never miss an opportunity to watch fencing when the summer games come on.  My fantasies of being an Olympic athlete are unrealistic, but I learn lessons of determination, leadership, and character from these elite athletes.  Today, I would like to share a few of those lessons.    

As a coach, listen to your team members.

Simone Biles was having concentration issues when she was qualifying during the games, but something was wrong when she got lost in the air during a vault.  Biles talked it over with the coach and said she could not go on.  The coach listened and agreed.  When someone comes to you with performance issues or problems with focus, the best you can do is listen.  Once you have heard someone out, take the best action for that person and the team.  I believe Biles coach did that, and Team U.S.A. won a silver medal.  

Being a champion is more than finishing first.

Kevin McDowell ran the race of his life in the Men’s Triathlon.  At one point, he was leading the race.  The cancer survivor gave it his all and finished the race in sixth place, the best Olympic finish by any U.S. male.  While running the race, he grabbed water for other competitors who could not reach it.  His battles with cancer and the sportsmanship he showed on the course make him a champion to me.  A person like that on your team is going to inspire and elevate everyone around them.  If you had to choose between winners and champions – pick the champions.  

Leave everything out on the field.

I watched U.S.A. softball play Japan in the gold medal match.  Everything which could go wrong for team U.S.A did.  One player hit into a freakish double play to end a rally.  When it was over, the U.S.A. won silver instead of Gold.  Pitcher Cat Osterman’s interview moved me after the game.  She said she left everything out on the field and was proud of the team. She encouraged younger players to stick with the sport and aspire to become future Olympians.  Your team needs to take pride in their work and do their best each time, even if the results do not lead to immediate success.  

Excellence is everywhere

We often have a skewed version of success.  Top salespeople sell more than others.  Broadcasters with ratings are more respected than those with personal integrity.  We value the winners who are the most visible and public with their accomplishments.  A person has spent years perfecting air pistol at the Olympics, someone has been weight lifting anonymously in the Philippines, and a mathematician peddled 85 miles for a gold medal.  The quiet dedication to craft and excellence is everywhere.  As coaches and agile practitioners, we need to encourage and recognize this kind of accomplishment. 

I have another week to nerd out about the Olympics, but the lessons will last a lifetime.

Until next time.