Women Athletes as Business Leaders

I have no doubt that women athletes can make excellent business leaders. There have been studies done on how women athletes fair as leaders. One such piece of research: Making the connection: women, sport and leadership, based on a global online survey of 400 women executives, was conducted by Longitude Research across Europe, the Americas and Asia-Pacific, with the top five responding countries being Brazil, Canada, China, the UK and the United States (http://www.ey.com/GL/en/Newsroom/News-releases/news-female-executives-say-participation-in-sport-helps-accelerate–leadership-and-career-potential)

Beth Brooke-Marciniak, EY’s Global Vice Chair, Public Policy, and Executive Sponsor of the Women Athletes Business Network, says:“We have long known that sport has a positive impact on society. These findings show that participation in sport not only influences leadership skills, style and career development, but it is also a powerful motivator for female executives.”

 

Laura Gentile, Vice President of espnW, says:“This study validates long-held theories that women who are athletes are well-suited for the business world and have tangible advantages. From work ethic to adaptability to superior problem-solving ability, these women enter the workforce ready to win and demonstrate that ability as they rise throughout their career.”

 

The top three areas where sport has played a very significant role in developing or improving leadership skills are: seeing projects through to completion; motivational skills; and team building. With a competitive spirit seen as essential for success on the playing field, about three-fourths (74%) highlight that being described as “competitive” is considered an asset to their leadership style. Candidates with a background of sporting achievement are seen as demonstrating the strong work ethic required to succeed in business (48%), with 70% agreeing with the statement: “Women who have played sport often make good employees.”

This study provides great information but for many women, this transition can be difficult. Women athletes don’t know where to turn after the ending of their athletic career. Too often, they have achieved their biggest dreams at a very young age, it becomes their identity and they have no idea what comes next. They crave guidance,connections and support to help figure out what’s next. They need role models to follow, mentors who have made similar journeys and professionals who understand what they are going through (http://www.ey.com/Publication/vwLUAssets/Elite_female_athletes_to_exceptional_leaders/$FILE/Elite%20female%20athletes%20and%20exceptional%20leaders%20Rio%20event.pdf).This is consistent with some of what I’ve seen in my work. Besides their athletic achievement many do have a strong work ethic and team building skills but for some their problem solving abilities, motivational skills and ability to adapt are not always present. These skills (and others) are there but because they have been isolated in a sport environment the transfer of those skills to life and the business world is often untenable.

There is a lot more to this conversation. For example, how do we help women athletes become even better leaders in their sport environment and prepare them for life outside of sport? Tune in next time!

Happy start to August!

Dr. Michelle

Photo cred: www.flickr.com