Tennis and business learnings

I met Roger Federer coincidentally at the gym, where we’re both members. Being a tennis player and lover myself, I asked him what kind of exercises he usually does when he’s around. He called them: agility exercises. And by being just the serene Roger we know from TV, he started moving left and right in an effort to show me what he means with agile. After the meeting I caught myself reflecting on the things that tennis has been teaching me the past years: 1. Agility In tennis agility means how quickly a player moves from a stationary position, changes directions or speeds. At work remaining agile is crucial, especially in times of restructuring, merges and acquisitions, problem solving, catching up with competition and managing conflicts. 2. Self-awareness It is unequivocally one of the most precious gifts of tennis. When learning new techniques the coach would always advise me to watch myself, especially after hitting the ball and finishing up the full movement. It is in these moments where the mistakes are being discovered and corrective actions take place. 3. Learn to lose No matter how good a tennis player someone is, there are always other factors that contribute to winning or losing a match. Learning to lose graciously in life helps us understand that all is part of the game and that we cannot control everything. Losing is also an opportunity to better ourselves by reflecting on our actions. 4. Focus Losing the focus on the ball and shifting it outside the tennis court could have a very negative consequence on the game. It is important to remain alert and shift the focus back to the game when we play, exactly as it is important to keep our focus on everything we do, professional goals and challenges to be addressed included. 5. Consistency Technique assumes repetition and consistency. Continuous training helps remain consistent. Listening hard to those who know better, like for example the tennis coach in this case, is also an important aspect of learning. 6. Learning to unlearn „Zu viele Bewegungsmuster“: This is what my coach told me when one day I complained about me not being able to keep sometimes up with the new learnings on the court. It literally means “too many moving patterns”. He wanted to point out that, as we become older, it is more difficult to unlearn old bad habits and learn anew, just like kids do. Difficult to change and adapt with age is one of the impediments to personal growth. Learning to unlearn is very important in the business context as well, as it helps us approach challenges with a different perspective and solve problems in a more sustainable way. 7. Anger management and temper control Getting upset on the court is easy, as tennis is a fast-moving sports art. Therefore, unless serenity and re-focus are gained quickly, it is highly probable that the match will be lost. Same applies in the business world. Unless anger is put aside, there cannot be constructive discussions and problems will not be solved. Broken relationships are like broken tennis rackets: irreparable damage. 8. Integrity and Fairness Being fair and demonstrating integrity while playing increases the likelihood of becoming the audience’s favorite athlete. The audience’s applause can have a very positive and rewarding psychological effect both inside and outside the court. In tennis as in business learning and betterment are two complimentary and ever ongoing processes. Recognizing and respecting the nature of these processes can help us achieve the goals and have fun along the way.