Leadership Lessons from Endurance Training
It’s kind of quiet on a long run. For many of us, it's an opportunity to tune out distractions, focusing only on the path and the progress that you have made that training session. Whether it's the final miles of a long-distance race or the challenging climbs of a trail run, these events have a way of reminding us of who we are and that we are more capable than we realize. For me, they’ve also become an opportunity to reflect on the qualities that define great leadership.
…and for many of us, the journey to the finish line, whether on pavement, dirt, or a remote trail, isn't just about physical endurance. It's a journey of discipline, resilience, and strategic thinking, all of which are vital to leading with purpose.
Here are a few lessons from my time in endurance training that I carry with me into the boardroom.
The Passion to Pursue a Vision
Almost no one runs a marathon on a whim. (I say almost, because you might see the occasional viral video of someone pulling it off, like the guy who ran 26.2 miles with no training and declared it "very dumb," those are the rare exceptions (checkout one example here: I Ran A Marathon Without Training). For the rest of us, it takes months of training, countless hours, and a clear vision of that finish line. When you're facing a 20-mile training run on a cold, dark morning, it's that clear "why" that gets your running shoes on and out the door.
As leaders, our teams need that same kind of compelling purpose. It’s our job to paint a picture of a future so inspiring that it motivates everyone to push through the inevitable daily challenges. I recently read an article published by the Berkeley Well-Being Institute that explains how setting clear, long-term goals is a fundamental aspect of success, as it provides a roadmap that aligns daily actions with a sense of purpose (that article can be found here: Long-Term Goals: Techniques & Examples for Setting and Achieving Goals). When we lead with that passion and a clear sense of purpose, we're not just asking people to work and contribute to the team’s or company’s mission; more impactfully, we're inviting them to join us on a meaningful journey.
Small, Consistent Steps Win the Race
A long-distance race isn't built on a single heroic effort but on the consistent work of showing up day after day. As your training progresses, you run a little farther, you climb a little higher, you recover a little faster and over time, those small gains build the strength and endurance you need to go the distance. Leadership is no different.
Sustainable success is built on consistent and disciplined actions: the regular check-ins with your team, your thoughtful feedback and theirs, as well as the commitment to your own growth. As an article from Mygrow suggests, excellent leadership isn't sporadic, it’s a set of habits (here’s that article: Forming Habits: The Secret to Great Leadership). Developing and maintaining these core habits is the secret to creating an amazing team culture.
Embracing the Struggle for Growth
The real growth in a run most often happens as a result of challenges, including the tired muscles or breathlessness on a steep climb, the blisters or lost toenails, training in the rain or cold and the mental fatigue. While not fun (ok, maybe “Type II Fun”), these discomforts help us discover our grit. The psychological benefits of endurance training are well-documented; studies show that it builds mental resilience by training your brain to handle discomfort and push past perceived limits (a great article can be found here: The Connection Between Endurance Sports and Mental Resilience).
Embracing challenges is a fundamental part of leadership and if it was easy or obvious, we wouldn’t need leaders. Whether it’s having a tough conversation, making a difficult decision, or navigating some business challenge, the ability to push through these challenges is what creates great leaders. By facing challenges head-on, you not only grow stronger but also inspire your team to do the same.
Recovery is a Non-Negotiable Part of the Process
Any long-distance runner will tell you that only have of the development comes from training; recovery is where the the rest of the development happens. It's when your body repair itself and gets stronger.
In leadership, we often feel the pressure to be "on" all the time, but this mindset is a direct path to burnout. True leadership includes prioritizing rest, focusing on (Mental, Physical, Spiritual, Social and Emotional) Wellness. This includes delegating effectively and encouraging a healthy work-life balance for everyone. Interesting research from the IMD Business School indicates that strategic breaks from work, sufficient rest and recovery are important ingredients in a high performing leader, resilient, creative and compassionate leader and their team (here’s that article: Reap the rewards of allowing employees to rest and recover).
In endurance sports, the finish line is an important yardstick of what we can accomplish when we envision our goal, stay disciplined, and trust in the process. The same is true for leadership; these lessons not only help us cross our own “finish lines” but also inspire our teams to achieve more than we and they thought possible.