Winning Teams: Lessons from Gold Medal Olympian Lauren Burns, Performance Support for Corporate Leadership Success
Written by Lauren Burns.
The study "Characteristics of Successful Performance Support Team Members at the Olympic Games" provides valuable insights for high performance sport, and leadership across a variety of domains, particularly in high-performance and high-stress environments.
Key learnings from the study include the importance of emotional management, effective communication, teamwork, and professionalism. Leaders can apply these insights by focusing on the following:
1. Emotional Management: The ability to manage and regulate emotions, both their own and those of their team members. By remaining composed under pressure and understanding the emotional triggers of their team, leaders can create a stable and supportive environment that enhances performance.
2. Effective Communication: Open and supportive communication is vital. Being present, listen actively, and communicate clearly. These skills foster trust and ensures that all team members are aligned with the organisation's goals.
3. Teamwork and Collaboration: Successful leaders encourage a team-oriented culture where collaboration and mutual respect are prioritised. This involves recognising and valuing the contributions of each team member, ensuring that everyone feels included and respected. A human-centred approach.
4. Commitment and Professionalism: Leaders must demonstrate a strong commitment to the team's goals and model professionalism in all interactions. This includes being reliable, maintaining high standards, and showing dedication to the success of the team.
5. Embracing Experience and Equality: Leaders should create an environment where experiences are shared, and all team members are treated equally. This involves fostering a culture of inclusivity and fairness, where diverse perspectives are valued and everyone feels empowered to contribute.
By utilising the application of these principles, leaders can enhance their team's cohesion, resilience, and overall performance, especially in environments that demand peak performance under pressure. This approach not only improves individual and team outcomes but also builds a strong, positive organisational culture.
The Performance Alliance
The Performance Alliance, as highlighted in the study, is another critical aspect that leaders can apply to their roles. The performance alliance refers to the strong, trust-based relationships between athletes and their support teams, which significantly contribute to success in high-stakes environments like the Olympics.
The concept of the Performance Alliance stems from the "working alliance," a well-established framework in therapeutic settings that emphasises the importance of trust, collaboration, and emotional support in achieving positive outcomes. In the context of leadership, this performance alliance translates into building strong, trust-based relationships within a team, where mutual respect and shared goals drive success. Leaders who foster this alliance can enhance team cohesion, reduce stress, and create an environment where individuals are both motivated and supported to excel under pressure.
For leaders, this underscores the importance of building deep, collaborative bonds with their team members. A strong Performance Alliance involves not only agreeing on goals and tasks but also developing a personal connection characterised by mutual respect, trust, and support. Leaders who invest in cultivating these alliances can enhance their team's resilience, reduce stress, and foster an environment where individuals feel supported and motivated to perform at their best. This relational approach to leadership ensures that the team is not just working towards common goals but is also united by a shared commitment to each other's success and well-being.
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