Taken seriously, sports foster some very positive mindsets. And while I think nearly all offer the below valuable lessons, to me it seems fighting (and perhaps 'adrenalin' sports) do so with more intensity. You might lose points, hopes, reputation if you suck in a badminton championship. In a combat sport, you might also lose teeth, consciousness or operational limbs. There is more at stake in a fight.
So if people fight competitively, I think it can demonstrate some desirable qualities in a potential manager / leader. For one thing, it shows that you (men and women) have balls. As in many business situations, you are never 100% prepared for a fight. You can be pretty well-trained, but you will never know what your opponent will bring, or how things will be on that particular day. So every time you step into the ring, you're knowingly taking a calculated leap of faith. I've noted that calculated leaps of faith are quite handy in business. And I think many competitive martial artists are already fairly comfortable with the concept.
Personally, I have also found that being physically fit provides me with more energy, and physical and mental resilience. These are useful life tools in or out of work.
For committed athletes, there's also commonly the desire for continual improvement and personal best. (Slightly different from 'competitive' in the old-fashioned sense of 'squashing others for the sake of it, or for personal glory'; I know these people exist in all worlds - but who could really trust a young squasher on their business team?) But if you want to become a biz leader, the drive for personal, and organisational, improvement is good. Also, of course, sports foster teamwork, and even in martial arts where fights are mostly one-on-one, you do get to train and travel with your squad and coaches, and build a feeling of family, support, trust, working together, and pleasure in your team's success as well as your own. And then there's discipline.
But one key thing that I think serious sports and business share is strategic operation.
Contrary to popular belief, fighting (in tournaments, championships) is not about 'beating the crap out of someone'. It's a game of strategy. You try to pick your fights. You study your opponent, you find their strengths and weaknesses, the things they have a tendency to fall for. And you set them up. You fake, you lure, you pace it, work with your own strengths and weaknesses. You create a situation where they are open: and then you go in for the kill. It sounds odd to suggest that this is not about 'squashing an opponent'. But it's not. It's an honest situation, and they are trying their own set of tactics on you, too. The fights where you're expressing anything personal or nasty will probably be the ones you lose. It's not a brawl, it is an intelligent game. And sometimes it doesn't matter so much if your opponent wins, as long as you have learned something, been able to execute a new move, or fulfilled whatever your goals were (hopefully also with intact dentistry). And because it is a game, it is also quite likely that you will genuinely have the utmost respect for, and maybe even be good friends with, your opponents.
Over years in business, I have noticed many of the same things apply. Those jostling for senior positions don't always do so by 'being good at their jobs', they rise by playing this game of strategy. (Or, preferably, both.) And while it can seem ruthless and unpleasant, a huge element of it is actually a game. Others vying for the same things, will probably know the unspoken rules and be fully aware of all the tactics being used on them. And they play accordingly. This is politics. And some people thoroughly enjoy this Game of Thrones in its own right.
But there are some crucial differences between a fight and the corporate Game of Thrones:
1. Not everybody in a business environment is actually aware of The Rules, or sometimes that there is even a Game of Thrones happening; so it's not always an honest or fair fight
2.OK, I've never been a CEO, but in some cases one can get on pretty well without playing this game (though I think it's always useful to be aware of it)
3. In the workplace it sometimes is personal
4. Peripheral people who don't want to play, can get caught up in it and hurt
5. If you're known as a 'player' you have to play very well; as there's a chance many will not trust you
6. And crucially: it's too exhausting! For any game of intensity there is one key rule: you cannot take your eye off it. The minute you lose focus in the ring, you get hit. There are similar risks attached to the office Game of Thrones. But in a fight tournament, you have three, 2-5 minute rounds. After which, whether you've won or lost, you can step out and get on with your life. The corporate game is a 24/7, 365 day scenario of continual focus and 'watching your back'. My view: surely life is too short?
So, for now, I am sticking to the honest game of kicking and punching people!
Photos:
1. The brilliant Ann Osman (MY, top) takes on Saber of Egypt in MMA
2. WTF taekwondo's Servet Tazegul (Tur)( in blue) v Martin Stamper (GB)
I do not hold rights to these photos, and could not find the photographers' credits online. (Thank you, whoever you are!)
