Business lessons from a triathlete.

In 2019, I completed five sprint triathlons. During one of them, as I was pedaling through the hilly orange groves of central Florida, I reflected on the lessons I’ve learned as a fairly new triathlete. Many are transferable to the business world.

1)     Set a big goal, set individual goals, and measure your progress towards those goals.   This sounds simple, but is something that we often fail to do consistently. Some goals might be obvious (e.g., complete the race without injury), but nearly every triathlete also has a metric in mind for what their “stretch” goal is and what is also more realistic. (Triathletes measure just about everything – from transition times to bike rpms). The same applies to your business objectives.  A former boss once stated that a “good manager will regularly ask about and track progress towards goals.” What mechanisms do you have in place for aligning and tracking your short-term and stretch goals? 

2)     Visualize the end result and plan backwards from the goal to your starting point. Nearly every athlete preparing for something has a training plan. The same thing is true in the business world, with nearly every opportunity. Once you decide what success looks like (even for things that may seem out of your control – like a PR opportunity), it is much easier to then develop strategies and tactics to reach that final goal. Being deliberate and having intent around the end result you want – versus just relying on luck – will help ensure success.

3)     Be accountable for what is in your control, prepare for when things go wrong, and have a backup plan. Every race, I’ve seen someone with a flat tire or some other issue, like a broken strap on swim goggles. Do some research on what could go wrong, and plan for it accordingly. It also means that everything you do on the day of a big event, you've done before (like try different energy drinks, etc). The same thing applies to everyday work. For a big presentation, did you book enough time in advance to get everything set up, test the webcams and sound, make sure your computer would broadcast onto the screen, etc.?  When I worked at Burger King, a colleague shared a tool called the “accountability ladder”. For a triathlon, that means making sure you have your equipment checked beforehand and that you’ve done nearly everything in your control for a successful event.

4)     The support and encouragement of others matters. Even when something like a triathlon might be an individual sport, support from those around you – family, friends, co-workers, etc., matter tremendously. Members of a team need to know that their manager and their colleagues will back them up even if things don’t always go perfectly. As I was biking up a steep hill shifting gears, hearing other athletes (and spectators) offering words of encouragement was very  motivating. Make sure to offer those same words of encouragement to your colleagues, especially when they’re working on something challenging and important. 

5)     Celebrate a win – even a small one. Completing my first triathlon last year, I was the slowest in my age group – but I completed it without injury, and that was a big win for me, returning to competition after sustaining a strained psoas muscle and IT band four years earlier. I was still faster than anyone else who didn’t race at all! Even the small and intermediate wins matter and it is important to celebrate them, before and during the journey.

6)     Fuel matters. Recovery matters. Take care of yourself. Triathletes obsess about their caloric and nutritional intake and also have planned recovery drinks, meals, etc. It is important to make sure that you are not just fueling right, but also taking the time to recover from anything intense, whether training or a race itself. How many of us are guilty of not taking all of our vacation days? Or jumping right into the next big project immediately after finishing one? I’ve learned that success at work and at life are closely linked, and I perform best when I take care of myself both mentally and physically.

7)     Do a post-mortem analysis on everything. You can always do better, and it is important to take note of any lessons learned sooner rather than later, when it is still fresh in your mind. Triathletes, once they get their times, will often know almost immediately what they need to improve and will note any mistakes made for any future races. When was the last time you did a post-mortem analysis for a big project you recently completed?

8)     Get in the right mindset. You are there for a reason. I never defined myself as an “athlete,” but once I arrived for my first triathlon and saw the sign that said “Welcome, Athletes!” I knew that I was there for a reason. I had trained and worked hard for this. Many of us – particularly women – struggle with self-doubt. This is often reinforced by seeing people who are better than you at something. As an example, in my most recent triathlon, I was passed on the bike by a 71-year-old woman! However, if you have been assigned a big task or daunting project, remember that you were hired because of your skills and your boss thinks you can accomplish it. You worked towards it. Get in the right mindset, stop comparing yourself to others, and nail it. You can do it. 

9)     Advice and help from others (or a coach) will help you improve. When embarking on something new, whether as an athlete or employee, recognize that there are others with more experience who can help you. For a triathlon, coaches can be very helpful – and help you improve your efficiency in the individual sports and your transitions. For work, colleagues, an external consultant, or an agency may have the necessary expertise and advice you seek.

10)  Focus on your weaknesses – AND your strengths. Many triathletes tend to focus on improving their weakest discipline is. (This tends to be swimming for a lot of people.) That’s important. But, sometimes the best race results will also come from honing in on your strengths and making even greater improvements there. In a professional setting, performance reviews and feedback tend to focus in on areas for growth and improvement. But, don’t neglect your strengths, and look for projects that will allow you to showcase (and nurture) your strengths so you have the opportunity to really do your best work.