What running taught me about leadership
Photo: Monique McHugh
What’s the thing you tell yourself you can’t do?
For me, it was always distance running. I convinced myself that I wasn’t capable of running beyond the 2 miles I could barely do without stopping. That is, until the day I decided to prove myself wrong.
I woke up one morning determined to run a 5K—1.1 miles farther than I’d ever run before. I was feeling defeated in certain areas of my business, and I just really needed to prove to myself that I could do something hard in an attempt to get my mojo back. Ever have a moment like this?
Several times throughout that run, I wanted to give up, but I convinced myself to keep moving one leg in front of the other. To my surprise, I did it. I’ll never forget how I felt: capable, strong, and better equipped to tackle the things weighing on me at work. From that moment on, challenging myself mentally became a critical part of my routine.
What I’ve learned from running is that my body is capable, it’s just that my inner dialogue and self-talk had led me to think differently. I told myself I wasn’t a distance runner, and therefore I believed I wasn’t. But after that 5K, I knew the story I had been telling myself wasn’t true, so I kept reaching for more. I set a goal for 3.5 miles. Once I achieved that, I did 4. Then 5. Last weekend, I ran 9. My next goal is to run a half-marathon—words I never thought I’d type.
Here’s what I want you to know: Running is still just as hard for me today as it was when I was barely doing 2 miles. Every single time I run, I think the goal is impossible. Every single time, I want to quit before reaching the “finish line.” But I’ve learned that it’s my mind that thinks it’s impossible and wants to quit, not my body. When I want to give up, I remind myself that I am a runner, that I can do it, that the pain I feel means I’m getting stronger, and that I want to keep the promise I made to myself by reaching the goal I set out to achieve. Sometimes I have to run really slow. Sometimes I have to stop and convince myself to try again the next day. But I always get there. I always reach the goal. Not because I’m in better physical shape now than I was back then, but because I talk to myself differently. I’ve trained my mind to know that when I say I’m going to do something, I do it.
So, what does this have to do with leadership? Everything. Think about how many times you tell yourself that you can't do this or that you aren't good at that. Or that you’ll never succeed at this, or that you’ll definitely fail at that. I think many of us have an inner dialogue that hurts us tremendously. Just like I told myself I wasn’t a distance runner, we may tell ourselves that we don’t have enough experience to lead a team. Or that we aren’t capable of getting our company to the next level. Or that we don’t have what it takes for that promotion. But what would happen if we rewrote the script? What would happen if we changed the story we tell ourselves, especially when we doubt our abilities or want to give up?
One impactful way to change your self-talk is to pick something you don’t think you can do and try to push beyond the limits you’ve put on yourself. It doesn’t have to be running. Maybe it’s playing guitar or learning another language. Tell yourself that you are a guitar player, or that you are bilingual. Set small milestones, and when you say you are going to do something, prove to yourself that you will. When you notice your self-talk becoming negative as you’re trying to achieve your goal, turn it around. When you fail, get back up and try again tomorrow. Slowly you’ll teach yourself that you’re capable and resilient—and that new mojo will absolutely help you at work.
Leadership isn’t easy. Whether it’s leading a company, leading a team, or leading yourself, there are many obstacles and situations you’ll face that appear to be impossible. But when you can prove to yourself in other areas of your life that you’re able to achieve things you didn’t think you were capable of, it has a ripple effect. You’ll learn that you really are able to overcome any professional challenge—no matter how difficult and daunting it may seem.
Your mind is more powerful than anything you’ve got. I’m so thankful that running has taught me that, and I wish the same self-discovery for you.
Big hugs,
