Hiding your shortcomings is virtually impossible in long-distance running. More than in any other athletic endeavor, a marathon forces you to confront weaknesses head-on, exposing your limitations as well as your strengths. That’s something that marathon-running corporate leaders know well, a group that includes T-Mobile chief executive John Legere, and Steve Reinemund and Bill Perez, the former chiefs of Pepsi and Nike, respectively.
Dambisa Moyo, an adviser to big businesses including Barclays PLC and soon to be two-time marathoner explains what corporate leaders can learn from a long run.
The Middle of the Road Isn’t Such a Bad Place to Be
Ever wonder why runners jostle for position at the center of the road? The roads in many cities are beveled or hump-shaped, a feature that helps rain run off to the roadside. Experienced marathoners know that it’s also the best place to run during a race, since running on an incline wreaks havoc on hips and joints, hindering performance.
Think of your company’s core mission the same way. When you are running a marathon and you see a space opening on the margins or a clear track emerges on one side, it seems like an alluring shortcut–but it’s not. This is equally true in business. Though it’s tempting to veer off into new territory, leaders should keep business plans and growth strategies on the high ground. Innovation can improve efficiencies and productivity, these should be balanced against staying close to businesses in which a company’s core strengths and unique selling proposition lie.
It Takes a Team
Running a marathon can take a lot more than slipping on a pair of sneakers and getting out there to train. Training regimens include gym trainers, masseurs to keep supple, Pilates instructors, nutritionists, coaches, and podiatrists. To be sure, thousands of people complete marathons without these trappings. Yet even now, looking back, it is daunting to imagine how much harder it would have been to cross the finish line without all this support.
Leaders who go it alone also achieve what they set out to do, but without a diverse team and broad support, the victories can be somewhat hollow. Victory is sweeter when the whole team – from the client-facing individual to the people in legal, compliance, and on the shop floor – works like a well-oiled machine.
Have a Mantra
Training for a marathon requires long, solitary hours on the road. Many marathoners have some form of mantra, whether it’s a playlist, a quote or a motto they repeat when things get tough. Diana Nyad, the 64-year-old woman who completed a 50-hour swim from Cuba to Florida, relied upon the John Lennon song “Imagine,” as one of the mantras to get her through her punishing feat.
Leaders must also rely on mantras to achieve their objectives. Guiding principles focus the mind of the manager who has to prioritize a range of alternatives. More importantly, these codified values are the tools to rally the troops. They push everyone in the organization to strive behind one strong message.
Never mind the Competition
Experienced runners counsel novices to “run their own race” — in short, staying focused even when an expectant mother or someone in a gorilla suit whizzes past you.
Yet, if you listen to these wise words, you invariably end up passing at least one of the runners who passed you.
Careers, and especially executive careers, are not that, unlike marathons. It’s easy to get caught up in who’s up (and who’s down), comparing your own trajectory to your peers’, or to the new hotshot in marketing who’s rising fast. It is tempting to let newfangled opportunities and the latest trends seduce you but staying focused on your goals and your own path is crucial. Whether racing down the track in your own time or resisting the allure of “opportunities” in the subprime mortgage market, leaders are rewarded for taking the road less traveled.
Be Prepared
You can’t plan for everything, no matter how much you train. Businesses pride themselves in being able to manage, grow and profit by understanding the risks they face. However, tail risks and exogenous factors – occurrences that are not anticipated, let alone planned for – are almost always the reason companies struggle.
Leaders can help companies brace for headwinds by fostering a culture that allows for creativity and flexibility so that companies can face unexpected challenges.
Failure Happens
In running, you need a plan B. On race day last year, my performance ended up over one hour worse than my worst-case scenario due to the cold wind.
When your plan fails, you have to adapt quickly and find a way to get back home. Changing plans midstream is not without its costs: in a marathon, it can add significant time to your race. Anyone running a company must be willing to cut losses when the costs of pursuing a particular plan become burdensome–consider the many leaders who have stuck too long with a losing proposition.
Whereas stodgy companies have the luxury to reject the fact that elements of their plans are failing and not adapt to changing circumstances, no marathoner can afford this without enormous costs. Even so, in a world of rapid technological advancements and innovation, laggards ignore change at their own peril.
