If you're into sports, you've seen it happen.
Hockey players forming the handshake line after a tough loss at the end of a play-off series.
Soccer players swapping sweat-soaked kits.
Boxers touching gloves at the beginning of each round. (And hugging each other after beating the opponent into a pulp.)
It's called sportsmanship, a great tradition in sports that means playing clean and handling both victory and defeat with style and dignity.
"Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, months and years they spend preparing for it. The victorious performance itself is merely the demonstration of their championship character" - Alan Armstrong
What a great line.
The key phrase here is championship character.
When James Teagle just metres from the finish line of the 2020 Santander Triathlon in Barcelona made a mistake and ran into a fence, Diego Méntrida then 'did the unexpected'.
That's championship character.
When Australian tennis player Lleyton Hewitt won a Hopman Cup match in Perth, we talked about what his American opponent Jack Sock did.
That's championship character.
Stsiapan Papou's gesture after winning gold at the 2015 European Games of Sambo is the finest show of championship character.
True champions live by standards, not emotions.
They have their character and class regardless of circumstances.
They care more about how they play the game than what the final score is at the end.
They never get tired of basics like Kobe.
They are committed to being the best they can be rather than focusing on beating everyone else.
How well have you defined what championship character means to you and your team?
Do you communicate it clearly and consistently?
Do they get it?
Do they really get it?
If not, you'll never create a culture of excellence.
And you’ll get defeated.
PS. Do you struggle to set yourself apart from your competitors? Does your tone of voice lack a little personality? Either way, get in touch and I’ll help you become remarkable. Or get more communication advice that doesn't suck here.
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