First published 2018
Harvard Business Review curated sixteen articles that extract leadership principles from top athletes and coaches. The collection features interviews and insights from figures like basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, soccer manager Sir Alex Ferguson, Olympic diver Greg Louganis, and tennis champion Andre Agassi. The authors examine how elite performers develop mental toughness, manage energy, and make strategic decisions under pressure. Contributors include former NFL coach Bill Parcells on team turnarounds, Olympic rower Alex Gregory on performing under pressure, and SoulCycle CEO Melanie Whelan on sustaining growth. The book teaches readers to address weaknesses alongside strengths, maintain physical health for mental performance, build confidence before crucial events, and focus on long term objectives despite short term failures. The compilation acknowledges where sports analogies fail in business contexts while drawing practical lessons from athletic excellence.
Genres: business, leadership, sports, non-fiction
Vibes: intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: educational, inspirational
160 pages · Paperback · Harvard Business Review Press