3 Leadership Lessons from the NYC Marathon
I watched the NYC Marathon yesterday. It’s getting to be a tradition for me. It was my 3rd year and I know I’ll be back next year. I like to watch at mile 22 because I know, at that point, the runners must need a boost from the sideline. My friend Pam and I cheered on runners and “high-fived” for hours. I love being part of the energy and am greatly inspired by the runners. I am high on the whole thing for days afterward.
Three important elements of the race this year are worth considering for lessons in leadership:
1. Competition can be a great thing. The leading pack stayed together for the first 20 miles. The New York Times said it well: “Togetherness Helps Set Winner Apart” “I thank my colleagues because we helped each other,” Geoffrey Mutai said after demolishing the course record. As a leader, we can leverage competition in a way that motivates others to do their best work.
2. Steadiness beats boldness. The women’s frontrunner ignored the cautionary tales about the toll that the early part of the course can take and, sure enough, she could not keep her fast pace and started to slow for the last 10 miles. As she said, “Maybe I was trying but I was not thinking.” Winning takes more than dazzling effort — it takes thinking. As leaders, we can help our teams to work smart not snazzy.
3. Self-assessment is necessary for growth. “If you’re honest about your weaknesses, you realize you’re only going to make it so far being the athlete you currently are,” says Lauren Fleshman (from Eugene OR – my home town). Her races have always been 5,000 meters or 3.1 miles. This was her first marathon — a huge change for her. As leaders, we can hear again and again about the need to change but until we recognize the need and are invested in our potential, we cannot grow. It’s necessary to be honest with yourself — more honest than anyone else might be and as she says “The right answer is the simple answer.” As a leader, we must rely on ourselves for honest reflection. 
