I was listening to Alastair Campbell speak last week and he kept making the point that we can learn a great deal from sport when it comes to running things. Olympic fever has brought the sports psychologists out in droves to consider the Games from numerous psychological angles1. So with Alastair Campbell's words ringing in my ears, I thought that I'd try and see which lessons are transferrable to business.
Perhaps the most striking insights can be derived from work that has been done on competition. Yes, sport is all about competition to win. Basketball teams in the US when playing teams with whom they have a history of close rivalry (think Arsenal, Tottenham) have been shown to put in extra effort2. Studies in Asia have also shown that a competitive culture increases the extra voluntary efforts that employees put in and therefore enhances performance. But the downside of rivalry is that it can become a distraction, especially if it's focussed internally within an organisation, taking attention and effort away from the 'real' competitive threat in the external business environment. Simply creating a competitive culture does not guarantee success as competition can also increase unethical behaviour3. Having said that, the effects of competitive pressure on athletes are variable depending on whether they think they have the skills and resources to rise to the challenge, or whether they see the pressure as a threat4. Building athletes' confidence in facing challenge and building employees' confidence in their abilities to deal with stretching, difficult situations are the essential activities of management life.
There seems to be a balance between competition and co operation that promotes optimum performance. Studies show that a mix between the two enhances performance, probably because this increases levels of enjoyment5. Sports people who enjoy themselves are more likely to succeed and this rule applies equally well to the workplace. Being deeply involved in an activity increases concentration and focus, sometimes known as flow6, and can lead to the higher performance and enjoyment – being in the 'Zone'. In another study, cricketers whose moods were assessed as happier and more enthusiastic were linked with better performance, and their positive mood communicates itself to other team members, which is again linked to better playing7. This isn't surprising as previous studies in organizations have shown that positive emotions are contagious, particularly those of leaders, and generate upward spirals of well-being and optimism that make for thriving companies8.
Other nuggets of wisdom to be gathered from the sports psychologists include a mantra invented at the 2000 Sydney Paralympics for dealing with crises that can equally be applied to business: De-escalate, Normalise, Simplify9. Crises often arise in pressurised situations when perceptions can become distorted and emotions heightened. De-escalating and normalising encourage detached, objective analysis and simplification promotes straightforward solutions. One practitioner also advises applying the 24 hour test: ask yourselves - If we wait 24 hours, might the problem or parts of the problem have gone away? As they point out, in pressurised situations there can be an overwhelming desire to leap in and fix things, which can be a hazard in itself. This applies as much to high stakes business as to the management of high stakes sports tournaments.
A further theme for thought is that of the Home Advantage. This certainly exists in all team sports studied (rugby, football, basketball, hockey et al), as well as at the Olympics. For the season 2010-11 in the Premier League, average goals scored at home were 30.9 to 22.3 away. The reasons for this are – perhaps surprisingly – disputed. Support from the home crowd can be double edged; it can be inspiring but also act as a distraction10. Some studies suggest that home advantage is at least in part attributable to lenient scoring including at the Olympics11. It seems that judges may feel some social pressure from the fans and the situation and it's certainly true that the home team gets it easier in terms of preparation and familiarity. There has even been a suggestion that there's a hormonal surge in the home team that can be traced back to animals defending their territory. So when you're next in a pitch situation or meeting a potential client who you haven't met before and have control over your venue, it's worth considering playing the home advantage.
And a final thought, research has shown that amongst athletes competing at the very highest level, their psychology was a greater predictor of their success than their physiology12. That's the edge the right mindset can give.
References
1 Jarrett, C. (2012). Faster, Higher, Stronger. The Psychologist, 25 (7), 504-517.
2 Kilduff, G.J., Elfenbein, H.A. & Staw, B.M. (2010). The psychology of rivalry. Academy of Management Journal, 53, 943-969.
3 Lam, L.W. (in Press). Impact of competitiveness on sales people's commitment and performance. Journal of Business Research.> Doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2011.10.026.
4 Jones, M., Meijen, C., McCarthy, P.J. & Sheffield, D. (2009). A theory of challenge and threat states in athletes. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 2, 161-180.
5 Tauer, J.M. & Harackiewicz, J.M. (2004). The effects of cooperation and competition on intrinsic motivation and performance. Interpersonal Relations and Group Processes, 86, 849-861.
6 Seligman, M. & Csikszentmihayli, M. (2000). Positive Psychology: An Introduction. American Psychologist, 55 (1), 5-14.
7 Totterdell, P. (1999). Mood scores: Mood performance in professional cricketers. British Journal of Psychology, 90, 317-33; Totterdell, P. (2000). Catching moods and hitting runs. Journal of Applied Psychology, 85, 848-859.
8 Fredrickson, B (2003 ). Positive Emotions & Upward Spirals in Organisations. In Cameron, K.S., Dutton, J.E., & Quinn , R.E. (Eds.) Positive Organizational Scholarship: Foundations of a New Discipline. Berrett-Koehler, San Francisco.
9 Lindsay, P. (2008). Supporting combat sports before and during the Olympic holding camp. The Sport and Exercise Scientist, 18, 18-19.
10 Wallace, H.M., Baumeister, R.F. & Vohs, K.D. (2005). Audience support and choking under pressure: A home disadvantage. Journal of Sports Sciences, 23, 429-438.
11 Balmer, N.J., Nevill, A.M. & Williams, A.M. (2001). Home advantage in the Winter Olympics (1908-1998). Journal of Sports Sciences, 19, 129-139.
12 Gould, D., Dieffenbach, K. & Moffett, A. (2002). Psychological characteristics and their development in Olympic champions. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 14, 172-204.
