Although some Olympians do work multiple jobs to fund their athletic pursuits, most are singularly dedicated to their sport with a steadfast commitment to personal improvement. While supporting my brother and ex-teammates from the USA Men’s Volleyball team in Paris, I was able to reflect on what it takes to continuously improve at something. (After all, continuous improvement is one of our core values at Regency Capital Management Inc.) Why are Olympic athletes some of the best examples of human improvement? How can we learn from them?
Olympic hopefuls live in environments of evaluation, criticism, and comparison. Everything they do is scrutinized. Feedback, warranted or not, is provided by the stopwatch, tape measure, coaches, teammates, family, friends, fans, and critics. By sheer number of repetitions within the arena, these athletes do naturally improve at managing their emotions, differentiating types of feedback, and learning from experiences. They do, however, require a high functioning team around them to help with this process, to help them improve as quickly as possible. I think we can do the same.
Takeaway 1: Build a team of advisors that we trust.
If we want to continuously improve, we need a tight circle of family, friends, colleagues, and mentors that provides honest and constructive feedback. Not only do we need a team of advisors that will push and hold us accountable to the process of improvement, but we need one that we trust. Why? Because feedback is sometimes hard to receive. Proper feedback, while at times feels personal, is specific, constructive information about behavior that can help us learn and grow. We are more apt to listening when we trust those around us have our best interests at heart. Olympic athletes have these types of people around them. High functioning teams can communicate honestly with one another with an understanding that feedback is a valuable tool pointing at avenues to help us get better.
Takeaway 2: Commit to action.
Great teams provide their members with specific methods to implement feedback and track results. We all, Olympians included, need a systematic plan to incorporate feedback into our daily lives, and the tight circle of advisors that we discussed above helps with this process. While we need those around us to help set the plan, we do, however, need to individually commit to change. This is what differentiates Olympians. With sights on the medal stand, there is an obsession with improvement and a commitment to using feedback to make necessary, often uncomfortable, changes. Most of our medal stands look a lot different; but we are all striving for something. Continuous improvement requires trusted feedback and a commitment to change. We can do it.
Bonus Takeaway 3: Visit Paris!
If you have any inclination to visit Paris (or Europe), please go. Of course, there is history and architecture and museums, but there is also a palpable energy in the streets that we don’t get at home in America. It’s hard to describe and incredible to experience. Although a bit hot, the summer months provide an opportunity for restaurants and bars to overflow into the streets and cheerful people from all over the world to mingle. Walking becomes fun. You are energized (maybe from the espresso shots, too). Thankfully, I was able to experience it all with a great group of family and friends. And Neil joined me for a few days of work and fun too!
Au revior!
