Rowing is a demanding sport. It pushes your body to its limits while requiring mental focus to execute each stroke with precision. Imagine the searing pain of lactic acid flooding your muscles. Your lungs burn as you try to suck in air. However, you learn skills applicable to business, such as using two questions that leaders should ask themselves regularly.
Back to rowing for a moment, amid this pain, you must maintain perfect technique. You need to ensure the oar exits the water cleanly and avoid rushing down the sliding seat to prevent slowing the boat. You time the feathering of the oar perfectly and synchronise its entry back into the water with the crew. I vividly recall moments when every part of my body screamed in pain, and thinking in these moments clearly felt impossible, yet there are two questions I used to bring myself to the task at hand. These questions are applicable to leaders, and they should ask themselves these questions regularly.
The Impact of Stress on Performance
High stress makes it difficult to focus on goals or actions needed to achieve them. Studies show that athletes struggle with simple arithmetic when under physical stress. As physical strain increases, analytical performance declines.
However, there are strategies to combat this drop in performance. During my rowing career, I learned a method that kept me grounded under stress.
Two Simple Questions
My rowing career may not have been remarkable, but it taught me valuable lessons. During one event, my coach gave me advice that stuck. He said, “No matter where you are in a race, answer two questions:
- Where am I?
- What should I be doing now?”
These questions are powerful because of their simplicity. They apply at any stage—preparation, the start line, mid-race, or the finish. They refocus you on your goal and what adjustments you need to make in that moment. Even under extreme stress, these questions are easy to process.
Applying the Questions to Leadership
These questions aren’t limited to rowing. I use them at work to stay grounded and aligned with my strategic goals. As a leader, this is crucial. In stressful situations, your team looks to you for confidence and direction. Knowing where you are and what you need to do helps you communicate clearly and guide others.
Clarity Through Simple Answers
Your answers to these questions don’t need to be complex. They just need to refocus you on your goals and immediate actions. Clarity doesn’t eliminate challenges or pain, but it gives them purpose.
In rowing and in leadership, purpose combined with clarity leads to success.
Get in touch with Murray here
Learn more about Murray here
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