The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

A web of leadership lies for Sally Pearson and Eric Hollingsworth

Dr Mike Martin new author
Roar Rookie
31st July, 2014
Advertisement
Sally doesn't need the extra pressure, people ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP
Dr Mike Martin new author
Roar Rookie
31st July, 2014
21
1294 Reads

Why is there an expectation that when a group of high performers get together for a big event like the Commonwealth Games that there has to be a leader?

Both Sally Pearson and Eric Hollingsworth were “sold the dump.” The need for leadership structure with high performers is an archaic, uninformed and bureaucratic myth perpetuated by lesser talented individuals who crave team leadership for themselves – and as a result think everyone needs leadership.

High performers don’t need the weight of leadership – they just need people to get out of their way and let them do what they’re great at – in fact; they’ll do it anyway, even if there are people in their way!

High performers by nature are self-centered, self-focused and self-absorbed – you have to be to generate the intensity necessary to make it at the highest levels.

Now do they sound like good leadership qualities? Of course not! So, we need to stop trying to foist leadership responsibilities onto high performers that are already in an emotionally demanding pressure-cooker.

Next-generation aspirationals will still get their chance to track, model and pick the brains of the superstars, and they don’t need the leadership tag to tell them who the leaders are – they already know it. Real mentorship is voluntary, natural and organic, it doesn’t need to be forced.

The whole Hollingsworth/Pearson controversy could have been fought on some other battleground, rather than leadership, if this myth of high performers needing leadership hadn’t been perpetuated and foisted upon both the coach and the athlete.

Seriously, let go of the whole team leadership thing. Just let high performers get focused and get on with it. Action and results are the best leadership – it’s that simple.

Advertisement
close