Gerald Walsh - An Atlantic Canada Leader in Executive Search, Career Transition, Executive Coaching and Human Resources

Leadership is a Marathon

The thrill of victory and the agony of the feet. You might have seen these words on billboards and posters around town promoting the Blue Nose International Marathon.

More than just a play on words from ABC's Wide World of Sports, this phrase speaks to both the acute sense of accomplishment a runner feels when crossing the finish line and the challenge and difficulty of getting there.

My view is that the journey getting you the start line is more important than actually crossing the finish line. That's because a marathon is not just about running 42.2 kilometres on a given day. It's about traveling roughly 1,000 kilometres over a four to six month training period leading up to race day. It's about establishing clearly defined targets and then meticulously executing them. It's about maintaining focus, commitment and determination when the training is toughest. It's about persevering and not giving up. It's about relying on others, managing change, and overcoming obstacles.

As an executive search consultant, I recognize that many people develop qualities outside the workplace that they then use within the workplace. And as a long distance runner too, I believe the process of preparing for and completing a marathon builds clear leadership qualities. Here are a few examples of what I mean:

Running teaches you about inter-dependencies.
Many people consider long distance running to be an individual sport. I think of it as a team sport. Although you will run your race alone, many will accompany you on that journey including coaches, trainers, family, friends, other runners, spectators and volunteers. Some are with you the entire way. Others will touch you briefly but inspire you greatly.

In business, true leaders never take full credit for their success. They recognize and acknowledge that where they are in their careers is the result of fellow workers, teachers, mentors and others. No one really makes it on their own.

Running teaches you how to deal with adversity.
The journey to complete a marathon is rarely smooth. In training, you will encounter injury, burnout, fatigue and frustration. You might also come across people who will cause you to doubt why you're putting yourself through such rigorous training. Or while running the race, you might 'hit the wall,' the point at which all your physical and emotional energy is depleted.

In our careers, we're hit with economic downturns, takeovers and new competition. The result can be job loss, financial stress and change. How we respond to these challenges is a test of character: a measure of determination and commitment to reach our potential. Most leaders have failed or made significant mistakes throughout their careers and admit they've learned their most valuable lessons from this adversity.

Running teaches you about the importance of 'soft skills.'
Running a marathon requires both physical fitness and mental toughness. Of the two, I believe mental toughness is more crucial to success. When a runner steps up to the starting line, he deserves to be there. He has equipped himself with the necessary tools and experience gained by following a painstaking training program. But all the physical preparation in the world does not guarantee success. Whether or not he finishes the race will hinge on how he manages the following several hours. Focus, self-discipline, perseverance and desire, all key ingredients of mental toughness, will determine the outcome.

Similarly, the workplace is full of people equipped with extraordinary technical skills or advanced degrees but who fall short of reaching their potential professionally. Why? Because they have not developed those soft skills or personal qualities that ultimately determine success in one's personal and professional life. Leaders understand that job specific skills alone do not guarantee success.

Running teaches you how to manage change.
Successfully training for a marathon will require that you abandon old habits and adopt sustained, new behaviours. Take eating for example. As you start concentrating on carbs, protein and hydration, you'll tend to think of food and drink more as fuel for your body rather than enjoyment. And consider time management. Training for a marathon means sticking to a rigid schedule. Often the only available time to train is early morning when everyone else is still asleep. Changing your routine by getting out of bed at 5:30 on a cold, dark morning requires big commitment.

Leaders exercise great discipline in order to implement change successfully. They understand that the temptation is to revert back to familiar ways of doing things, often because they are easier. But they also understand that easier usually equates with less effective, meaning that the desired outcome is less likely to be achieved.

A friend of mine once described running a marathon as the closest thing most of us will have to the Olympic experience. When he said this, the picture that came to mind was of a gold medallist standing on the highest podium. Then I read the Olympic Creed. Written in 1908, the Olympic Creed states, "The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win, but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well."

True leaders understand that success is not about finishing on top or making the most money. It's more important to learn from the journey and reach our potential than to reach someone else's goals.

Gerald Walsh, CMA, is an executive search consultant and co-chair of the
Blue Nose International Marathon.

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