"Champions of Transformation" - Success Strategies from Elite Sports

Artificial Intelligence, Skills Shortage, Generation Z: Mastering Changes like True Champions The only constant is change - as we are experiencing right now: Be it the implementation of artificial intelligence into existing work processes, the development of creative solutions due to skills shortages, or the question of how to deal with the expectations of younger generations. Everything is in flux. But: We can shape this change and learn a lot from top athletes, successful teams, and their coaches. They all do not settle for the status quo, but face new challenges with a fundamental openness. What's more, they continue to work on themselves even when they are at the (current) peak of their careers. "I measure my success not by victories, but by whether I improve every year," said golf pro Tiger Woods.

Start with the Why - and Create a Vision

What factors are crucial for successful change? Top athletes know why they do something. This sounds simple, but in everyday work life, many employees are often not clear about what the company's vision looks like, what goal their own department has, and how they specifically contribute with their own work performance. It doesn't always have to be as explicit as Arnold Schwarzenegger, who as a teenager hung pictures of naked, oiled men over his bed because he wanted to become "Mr. Universe" someday. However, defining the "Why" clearly at all levels of the company, making it transparent, and setting it in (binding!) discussions with each individual can be helpful. A strong visual vision can help make this goal more tangible and emotional. Additionally, a clear roadmap with the right prioritization is needed. "You need Vitamin N," said marathon Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge. "And Vitamin N means that you have to learn to say no." So, we should always examine all activities, tasks, and behaviors with the question: Does this bring me, bring us closer to our goal? Where can tasks be delegated, or even completely eliminated? Such focus phases should be time-limited and clearly defined from the beginning to maintain motivation. Even top athletes always have a specific competition, a concrete title in mind for which they train. A SMART goal (specific, measurable, ambitious, realistic, time-bound) helps to maintain focus.

The Coach Can't Score Goals

But how exactly do you decide how to implement the necessary elements? If you ask German national hockey coach André Henning, he would say: As a team. He led the German men's hockey team to become world champions in 2023 and attributes this success to a strong focus on self-organization and agile leadership. Sub-teams took care of tactics, performance, and social aspects, and many of the game discussions were led by players, not the coaching staff. "I learn as much from my players as they hopefully learn from me," said Henning, emphasizing a very modern understanding of leadership demanded by the younger generation in the workplace: more personal responsibility, more autonomy, more space for creativity and own ideas. At the same time, clear frameworks, role assignments, and rules are needed.

Feedback is the Key

For effective teamwork, honest and constructive feedback is essential. Video analysis is now not only standard for professional footballers but is also extensively used in amateur sports: What was good, where do we need to improve? A classic video analysis makes sense in the office only in specific situations, like filming during a presentation or speech. But even in normal work life, we can take an example from top athletes in terms of feedback. The Swiss Alinghi sailing team, which won the America's Cup in 2003 as the first landlocked country, turned feedback into a decisive competitive advantage - by giving each team member feedback on their current performance. The feedback provider rotated, regardless of their position in the team, and the feedback cycles were close. So, no matter what challenge lies ahead - whether it's AI, skills shortage, or dealing with Generation Z: Change is necessary. And change can succeed! Perhaps we will even create a game-changing innovation, just as Dick Fosbury did when he jumped backward over the bar at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City - establishing a completely new technique in high jump. For more inspiring stories and practical tips for everyday work life, check out my latest book "the working game" and my lecture series.