It’s that time of the year again. July has come along and I have the delight of hanging out with some of our top clients in SW19.
I am one of the very very lucky few, not only do I love tennis, but I am fascinated by the human spectacle that the yearly strawberries and cream pilgrimage offers.
Now, I write as I’m waiting for another flight, and so far, I have been musing about what some of the players are going through in their careers. Such wealth of human experience!
In my usual style, I have identified five career moments personified in my favourite players.
Coco Gauff – Let’s start with my favourite find: the rookie! This extraordinary fifteen-year old showed us all the powerful combination of hope, grit, talent and hard work. I have a couple of Cocos on my team. Their talent must be challenged and nurtured, they might not win it all the first time around, but they need us – their leaders – to tell them how much they can and do contribute to our overall success. We also must hold their hand through their first defeats. If you get the chance to mentor or supervise a Coco, do not underestimate the influence you will have in her career. Handle with care!
Roger Federer– the seasoned champion. The #GOATs of business come along every once in a while. At Globocorp, his name is Michael Ambrose. He is clever, fun and consistently delivers great results even when faced with the toughest challenges. My approach to him is let him fly, correct him gently because his ego is fragile, and learn to deal with the very human difficulty of having an employee that outshines you.
Andy Murray– the lateral mover. Every life has its moments of reckoning. Sometimes by choice, sometimes for health or personal reasons, we take a step back and are invited to reinvent ourselves. If he wasn’t ready to come back to singles, he found joy and comfort in doubles and in the marketing miracle that is MurRena (the Serena/Andy pair). Give the lateral mover in your organization a chance to come back and find his or her place, they might deliver unexpected riches!
Serena Williams – the comeback queen. Returning is always tricky. Returning from maternity leave is particularly difficult. Over the years I have changed my approach to supporting those in my team who have families, both men and women. Nowadays, I hire them a transition coach to help them and us adapt to their new selves. They have added skills and a newly found focus. As I watched pictures of the Queen of tennis cooling down with her toddler in arms, I’m reminded of how businesses who provide space and time for employees with caring responsibilities to fulfil them and fulfil their career dreams, reap benefits time and again. It just requires us to shift gears a little.
Johanna Konta– the consistent performer that suddenly disappoints you. Oh Jo! You-broke-our-hearts. Again. Her case is a tricky one, her talent and hard work shouldn’t be questioned. But something happens that when the stakes get high, she freezes…. Now, I have a confession to make. At the very early stages in my career, I suffered from this. I was a 90% deliverer… and then I dropped the ball. I had an enlightened manager that noticed it and paired me with a “finisher”, to keep me motivated to the end. Not only did it save my career and make me a lifelong friend, I keep using that technique. I always have a finisher in my team and someone who delights in detail, they are there to help me hold my serve until the end.
Each one of these situations comes with its own challenges and opportunities, and they present leaders like me with special chances to inspire, motivate and elevate.
Because, as a leader, my success is defined by my ability to make my team succeed. And I love it!
What do you think? Any other Wimbledon stories that mirror real life for you? I would love to hear them.
As usual, if you would like to know more about how I can come and help you and your team, just drop us a line.
Corporate Snakes and Career Ladders 