Remember the electrifying moment when Sir Chris Hoy won his sixth gold medal? Those incredible feats of the British cycling team were nothing short of inspirational. Even as an American, I could feel the electricity from Boston.

The skills and discipline of Olympic athletes aren’t just for sports enthusiasts; they’re also a source of inspiration for leaders looking to excel in business. Just like elite cyclists and athletes alike, managers need to master a wide range of skills and invest in their personal development, all of which is underpinned by the right technology.

Like the coaches that train gold-standard cyclists, business leaders understand that company success is driven by high-achieving employees that feel part of a wider team that caters to their individual needs. However, the increasing number of RTO mandates executed by companies like Dell and Amazon are disrupting workforce motivation, employee morale and the sense of team. Leaders need to understand that flexibility is key to fostering individual talent and collaboration.

Pedal towards tailor-made schedules  

Olympic cyclists must excel across a diverse range of events including individual sprints, relays, endurance races, and even the Omnium, a multiple race track cycling event, which all require different styles of training. Therefore, they must tailor their training days towards optimising their endurance and power. For example, balancing longer rides with shorter, high-intensity power training sessions, and monitoring their training load ensures cyclists avoid overtraining and ensure peak performance.

Similarly, employees must manage a wide range of tasks, such as strategic planning, project management, client interactions, and data analysis. Leaders can set employees up for success by empowering them to tailor their schedules based on the nature of their tasks, also known as task-based working. Our 2023 State of Hybrid Work survey revealed that UK employees feel more productive in different working locations, depending on the task at hand.

For example, nearly two thirds (63%) of employees feel most productive doing independent work at home. However, two in five (40%) feel more productive collaborating with others in the office, with only a quarter saying they felt productive collaborating at home. I encourage leaders and employees to work from the location that yields the highest productivity, depending on the nature of the task. For example, I prefer to do collaborative and creative work in the office during the morning and then work from home in the afternoon to focus on individual tasks. This approach not only enhances productivity but also enables employees to develop a wide range of skills in the most conducive environments.

Plan, train, and saddle up for success

Olympic cyclists dedicate countless hours refining every facet of their performance before the race. Training is long, intense, and often doesn’t leave a lot of time for recovery. But this level of commitment is what sets winners apart from their competitors.

In the past, Sir Chris Hoy has said that he visualises every aspect of the race and envisions that ‘perfect performance’ to set himself up for success. Similarly, business leaders can visualise their perfect race, i.e., their dream goals and outcomes, and then instil ongoing planning and training measures to make sure they actually happen.

I am an advocate for continuous collaboration and knowledge sharing through regular brainstorming sessions and cross-departmental meetings. By fostering a culture of ongoing improvement and open communication, leaders can ensure that everyone is aligned and working efficiently towards common objectives. This keeps teams agile and prepared for any challenge, much like gold-standard cyclists ahead of the race.

Go up a gear with innovative technology 

Athletes have embraced AI tools to track and analyse their performance. They use individualised datasets to identify their strengths and weaknesses, which can then be used for personal improvement and development. Similarly, leaders can use tech to analyse internal data and boost employee performance at work.

Leaders can also explore using AI and automation tools, such as workflow automation software, that handle mundane tasks, allowing employees to reallocate admin time to more dynamic and collaborative activities.

Good technology matters and is a crucial factor in the effectiveness of hybrid work. It’s no surprise that our survey found that 72% of UK employees said good technology is an important part of their work experience. Leaders should continue to invest in their tech stack to help employees achieve high performance and boost morale.

The journey of a gold-standard athlete isn’t just about winning medals; it’s about mastering variety, thriving on continuous development, and smartly leveraging technology. These are the very traits that cultivate high-performing employees. So, whether you’re in the office, at home, or somewhere in between, create an environment where these skills can flourish. Embrace the spirit of adaptability and resilience, and watch your career soar. Just as Sir Chris Hoy’s legendary win still inspires us, so too can these principles propel us to new heights in our professional lives.