What Business Leaders Can Learn from Elite Athletes

What Business Leaders Can Learn from Elite Athletes

By Mark Wager

There’s something inspiring about watching elite athletes perform at their peak. Whether it’s a footballer scoring the winning goal in a final, a sprinter crossing the finish line with seconds to spare, or a fighter stepping into the ring with unshakable confidence, we can’t help but admire their ability to perform under pressure.

But have you ever wondered what separates the good from the great in the world of sports? It’s not just physical ability or technical skill—those are a given at that level. What truly sets champions apart is their mindset. And here’s the fascinating part: the mindset of a world-class athlete isn’t confined to the arena. It’s a way of thinking that can be applied to leadership, business, and life.

As a leadership and mindset coach, I’ve worked with leaders from all walks of life. Over the years, I’ve noticed striking similarities between the challenges leaders face and the mental battles athletes overcome. If you want to take your leadership to the next level, you don’t need to train like an athlete—but you do need to think like one.

The Power of Visualisation

Elite athletes don’t just train their bodies; they train their minds. One of the most effective tools in their arsenal is visualisation. Before they ever step onto the track, the field, or the court, they’ve already imagined every detail of their performance.

A sprinter will picture themselves exploding out of the blocks, maintaining perfect form, and crossing the finish line first. A golfer will visualise every shot, from the backswing to the ball landing precisely where they want it.

Why is this so powerful? Because the brain doesn’t fully distinguish between what’s real and what’s vividly imagined. By visualising success, athletes prime their minds for peak performance.

As a leader, you can do the same. Before an important presentation, a challenging conversation, or a high-stakes decision, take time to visualise the outcome you want. Imagine yourself speaking confidently, handling objections with ease, and achieving your goals. The more vividly you can see it, the more your mind will align with that reality.

Resilience in the Face of Failure

Every champion has experienced failure. The All Blacks don’t win every match they play. Michael Jordan famously said, “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

The key isn’t avoiding failure—it’s learning from it and coming back stronger.

In business and leadership, failure is inevitable. You might make a decision that backfires, lose a big client, or struggle to meet a deadline. What matters is how you respond. Do you dwell on the setback, or do you analyse what went wrong, adjust your approach, and try again?

Athletes understand that failure isn’t final. It’s feedback. Leaders who adopt this mindset can turn their greatest challenges into their greatest opportunities for growth.

The Importance of Focus

Have you ever watched a tennis player between points or a basketball player at the free-throw line? They block out the noise, tune out distractions, and focus entirely on the task at hand. Their ability to stay present is one of the reasons they perform so well under pressure.

In leadership, focus is equally critical. It’s easy to get pulled in a dozen different directions—answering emails, attending meetings, putting out fires. But great leaders, like great athletes, know how to prioritise and direct their energy where it matters most.

The next time you feel overwhelmed, ask yourself: What’s my most important task right now? Then, give it your full attention. Like an athlete preparing for their next play, be fully present in the moment.

Building Mental Toughness

Mental toughness is often the deciding factor between winning and losing in sports. It’s the ability to stay composed under pressure, push through pain, and keep going when others would give up.

Leaders face pressure, too—tight deadlines, high expectations, and the responsibility of guiding a team through uncertainty. Building mental toughness doesn’t mean ignoring stress or pretending everything is fine. It means developing the capacity to stay calm and make clear decisions, even when the stakes are high.

One way to build mental toughness is to reframe challenges as opportunities. Instead of thinking, This is too hard, try asking, What can I learn from this? By shifting your perspective, you train your mind to see possibilities instead of obstacles.

The Role of Rest and Recovery

Here’s something that might surprise you: elite athletes don’t spend every waking moment training. Rest and recovery are an essential part of their regimen. Without it, their performance would suffer, and their risk of injury would skyrocket.

Yet in leadership, rest is often undervalued. We glorify long hours and constant hustle, but this mindset can lead to burnout. The truth is, you can’t lead effectively if you’re running on empty.

Take a lesson from the champions and prioritise rest. Whether it’s taking regular breaks during the day, making time for hobbies, or getting enough sleep, recovery isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. When you take care of yourself, you’re better equipped to take care of your team.

The Importance of Coaching

No matter how talented an athlete is, they all have a coach. From Olympic sprinters to world-class footballers, champions rely on someone to provide feedback, refine their technique, and push them to be their best.

Leaders can benefit from coaching in the same way. As a leader, it’s easy to get stuck in your own perspective. A coach provides an outside view, helping you identify blind spots, build on your strengths, and navigate challenges with greater clarity.

I’ve had the privilege of coaching leaders who, like elite athletes, want to perform at their best. And one of the biggest breakthroughs they experience is realising that leadership isn’t about knowing all the answers—it’s about continuously learning and growing.

Adopting the Mindset of a Champion

The mindset of a champion isn’t about being perfect. It’s about striving for excellence, embracing challenges, and staying committed to growth. It’s about resilience, focus, and the courage to keep going even when the odds are against you.

As a leader, you don’t need to compete in the Olympics or break world records to adopt this mindset. You just need to be willing to see yourself as a work in progress—a leader who’s constantly evolving and improving.

If you’re ready to take your leadership to the next level, I can help. As a leadership and mindset coach, I specialise in helping leaders develop the mental strategies they need to succeed. Together, we can unlock your potential and create a leadership style that’s both effective and sustainable.

Let’s work together to develop your champion mindset. Contact me today for a free consultation and start leading like the best. Because leadership, like sport, is about more than winning—it’s about becoming the best version of yourself.