“Make new mistakes, not repetitive ones.”
That was one of the key points delivered by CSM Global Chairman, Olympic medalist, world record holder, Chairman of the London Olympic Organizing Committee and former member of Parliament and President of the IAAF, Lord Sebastian Coe to an invitation-only gathering of sports business leading executives last week at the annual Sports Business Journal “Thought Leaders” Conference in California. Lord Coe joined CSM’s Dan Mannix on stage for a 45 minute discussion on leadership, diversity and disruptive engagement in business for the audience of just over 130.
While most of the day and a half event was off the record, it is safe to say that the discussion Mannix and Coe led talked largely about both the issues and opportunities that sport and business are dealing with today, and how the need for positive and diverse leadership continues to be critical for organizations that adapt to be successful in a business that is both more global and more fluid that ever before. ‘Make sure your organization reflects the world you live in,” was another of the key messages for success that came up during the back and forth, a mantra that Lord Coe successfully put to the test during the London Olympic Games, when he assembled the most diverse leadership team in the history of the Games, one which was responsible for executing arguably one of the most successful Olympics in the last 100 years. While leadership can be complex and complicated, Lord Coe was able to boil down the key essentials for success to a precious few points: Clear and transparent decision making; who do you want leading your company, and how can you use those two aspects to grow your employees, and with it the company.
However inclusiveness, he pointed out, will also be critical for drawing younger talent who are much more conscious of the values and culture of a company they choose to work for than say, 20 years ago. Inclusiveness, Mannix also pointed out, has been key to Lead Dog’s meteoric growth, an aspect of success which has come along to CSM, and one which was echoed by the company’s Executive Chairman.
“If you want to be successful on all levels, building the right culture, one where employees feel part of the process of decision making and that their voice is heard and appreciated, is really important today. You can’t operate in silos any more, and breaking down those perceived barriers is both a great challenge, but even more of an opportunity, than it has been before,” Coe added.
While some companies continue to opine about issues of culture, leadership is an area where CSM continues to make great strides, and it comes from the very top, a message that came across clearly to all those listening and learning this past week.
Seb Coe sets the pace in business like he had in a legendary career in athletics.
