Paris Olympics 2024: What Can We Learn About Being a Purpose-Driven Organisation?

Every four years, we can see the incredible achievements of athletes from around the world at the Olympic Games and Paris 2024 will be no exception. The dedication, resilience, and unwavering focus that the athletes give to the objective of achieving a gold medal offers lessons for business leaders striving to be purpose-driven and motivated to achieve their own objectives.

Setting a Purpose

As the leaders of the Olympic movement, the IOC are the “board” setting the mission, vision and values. The Olympic movement has clear values that are understood in modern times to be excellence, respect and friendship.

• Striving for excellence and encouraging people to be the best they can be.
• Demonstrating respect in many different manners: respect towards yourself, the rules, your opponents, the environment, the public, etc.
• Celebrating friendship, which is quite unique to the Olympic Games – an event that brings people together every few years.

At MAD-HR we are clear on our mission to Make A Difference and the PARIS values that run through our business and all our interactions. We often support our clients by facilitating discussions to distil what their values are and how they contribute to achieving the mission and vision of their organisation.

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Setting and Achieving Goals: Lessons from Olympians

Olympic athletes and their teams demonstrate the power of goal setting as they set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals. In the workplace, adopting a similar approach to goal setting will drive performance and success. Consider these examples of SMART goals in the workplace:

• Increase sales revenue by 15% in the next quarter.
• Enhance customer satisfaction scores by 10% over six months.
• Train and certify 80% of the team in advanced project management by year-end.

Your individual and team goals should align with the broader company goal, ensuring that every effort contributes to the organisation’s overall mission. Think of it as a golden thread linking the contributions of every level and area of the organisation.

However, conflicting goals in the workplace can pose challenges. For instance, a sales team’s drive to increase revenue might conflict with the customer service team’s goal of maintaining high service quality. Effective leadership skills are essential to balance these potentially conflicting goals, ensuring that all team goals contribute to the overarching company objectives.

The Goal Setting Process

The process of setting and achieving goals in the workplace should be deliberate and well-structured in the performance management process. Here’s how businesses can emulate the goal-setting process of Olympians:

1. Identify Goals: Clearly define what you want to achieve.
2. Develop a Plan: Outline the steps necessary to achieve these goals. This might involve setting smaller, incremental workplace development goals.
3. Monitor Progress: Regularly review progress and adjust plans as needed. Providing constructive feedback at this stage is crucial.
4. Celebrate Achievements: Recognise and reward accomplishments to maintain motivation and job satisfaction.

Maintaining Motivation

Motivation is crucial in both sport and business. Olympic athletes maintain their motivation through clear objectives, regular feedback, and a supportive environment with their coaching teams. In the business context, fostering motivation involves similar strategies:

• Constructive Feedback: Regular, positive feedback helps employees understand their progress and areas for improvement, much like the feedback from the athlete’s coach.
• Effective Communication: Clear communication of goals and expectations ensures everyone is aligned and working towards the same objectives.
• Job Satisfaction: Creating a positive work environment that supports career growth and development keeps employees engaged and motivated.

Investing in Development and Growth

Olympic athletes continuously work on their skills to stay competitive. Similarly, businesses should invest in their employees’ career development, keeping them fit and ready to perform. This could be through:

• Online Courses: Offering opportunities for employees to enhance their skills, such as through online courses in presenting skills or advanced technical training.
• Career Development Programs: Structured programs that focus on soft skills and leadership development can prepare employees for future roles within the company.
• Coaching: This is just as effective in a business environment, as our expert coaches help to unlock the potential of individuals to achieve.

Our learning and development experts can help you take a strategic approach to assessing development requirements and designing bespoke solutions.

Inclusion

The Olympics aim for inclusion so that everyone is represented.

“These five rings represent the five parts of the world now won over to the cause of olympism and ready to accept its fecund rivalries. What is more, the six colours thus combined reproduce those of all nations without exception.” Pierre de Coubertin – Founder of the Olympic Movement

The IOC recognises and is seeking to improve the levels of participation and success for underrepresented groups; they have been working towards achieving #GenderEqualOlympics. In 1900 the first female athletes were represented at the Paris Olympics, comprising 2% of participants. This has been improving with 48% of athletes being female in Tokyo 2020. Their commitment is to achieve a 50/50 split at this year’s games.

Gender inclusion in the workplace is also crucial to creating a diverse and inclusive environment. The proportion of board positions held by women in the FTSE 350 rose to a record high of 42% this year, according to the government-backed annual FTSE Women Leaders Review. This is up from 24.5% in 2017 when the report was launched.

Increasing this figure involves actively seeking to hire, promote, and engage women in leadership roles. This not only provides unique insights that can help a company grow but also creates a culture of respect and value for all employees, regardless of their gender.

Conclusion

The Olympics provide a powerful analogy for business success. By setting SMART goals, fostering a motivating and supportive work environment, and investing in employee development, businesses can drive towards their objectives with the same determination and focus as Olympic athletes. Embracing these principles not only helps in achieving workplace goals and objectives but also in creating a purpose-driven organisation where every member is aligned and motivated to succeed.

Incorporating these practices can transform the workplace, ensuring that goals are not just set but achieved, driving both individual and organisational growth. Just as athletes strive for excellence, businesses too can reach their peak performance by adopting these strategies.

If you would like support in defining your purpose, setting goals and managing performance, our expert HR consultants can help. Get in touch today.

Photo by Patrick Perkins on Unsplash