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HBR's 10 Must Reads on Leadership Lessons from Sports
Leadership and management lessons from the sports world. The world's elite athletes and coaches achieve high performance through inspiring leadership, mental toughness, and direction-setting strategic choices. Harvard Business Review has talked to many of these high performers throughout the years to learn how their success translates to the world of business. If you read nothing else on management lessons from the world of sports, read these 10 articles by athletes, coaches, and leadership experts. We've combed through our archive and selected the articles that will best help you drive performance. This book will inspire you to: This collection of articles includes "Ferguson's Formula," by Anita Elberse with Sir Alex Ferguson; "Life's Work: An Interview with Greg Louganis"; "The Making of a Corporate Athlete," by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz; "The Tough Work of Turning a Team Around," by Bill Parcells; "How an Olympic Gold Medalist Learned to Perform Under Pressure: An Interview with Alex Gregory"; "Mental Preparation Secrets of Top Athletes, Entertainers, and Surgeons," an interview with Daniel McGinn by Sarah Green Carmichael; "SoulCycle's CEO on Sustaining Growth in a Faddish Industry," by Melanie Whelan; "Life's Work: An Interview with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar"; "Major League Innovation," by Scott D. Anthony; "Looking Past Performance in Your Star Talent," by Mark de Rond, Adrian Moorhouse, and Matt Rogan; "Life's Work: An Interview with Mikhail Baryshnikov"; "How the Best of the Best Get Better and Better," by Graham Jones; "Life's Work: An Interview with Joe Girardi"; "Why There Is an I in Team," by Mark de Rond; "Life's Work: An Interview with Andre Agassi"; and "Why Sports Are a Terrible Metaphor for Business," by Bill Taylor.
200 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 16, 2018
40 people are currently reading
240 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 20, 2026
Last year, I had the joy of serving as House Captain for #TeamJedi during my workplace’s inter-house games tournament. With its Star Wars theme and up to 16 games for participation, the competition was great and so was the need for me to step up as a leader. I felt deeply rooted to my purpose in bringing together over 270 colleagues as one team. Every day became a new opportunity to learn the rules of each game, encourage involvement of colleagues as players, and coordinate practice schedules. Naturally, when I came across On Leadership Lessons from Sports at a nearby library, I immediately felt drawn to reading it. In the end, this became the perfect book for me to reflect on my sports leadership chapter.
The book stands out with its compilation of interviews from notable sports managers and athletes including Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United’s former football manager, as well as Olympics gold medallists Greg Louganis and Alex Gregory. It was interesting to gain insights on how these professionals (and more!) power through high-pressure events with good daily rituals, visualisation exercises, efficient energy management and rhythmic stress recovery.
I appreciated the emphasis on coaching subordinates as individuals on a personal level too. This is essential to understand the goals and aspirations of the team, as well as the potential each person brings to the table. Looking at the bigger picture facilitates effective delegation, avoiding micromanagement and burnout. In building a culture of success, kind and honest communication must happen, ensuring expectations are known and much-needed improvements can be tackled immediately for the benefit of the unit.
The lessons shared could easily be adopted in a corporate setting and I would highly recommend this book for leaders in their respective fields. There is really no substitute to inspiring a team, trusting and appreciating each other, having good work ethic and equipping everyone with the right skills to grow long-term.
The book stands out with its compilation of interviews from notable sports managers and athletes including Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United’s former football manager, as well as Olympics gold medallists Greg Louganis and Alex Gregory. It was interesting to gain insights on how these professionals (and more!) power through high-pressure events with good daily rituals, visualisation exercises, efficient energy management and rhythmic stress recovery.
I appreciated the emphasis on coaching subordinates as individuals on a personal level too. This is essential to understand the goals and aspirations of the team, as well as the potential each person brings to the table. Looking at the bigger picture facilitates effective delegation, avoiding micromanagement and burnout. In building a culture of success, kind and honest communication must happen, ensuring expectations are known and much-needed improvements can be tackled immediately for the benefit of the unit.
The lessons shared could easily be adopted in a corporate setting and I would highly recommend this book for leaders in their respective fields. There is really no substitute to inspiring a team, trusting and appreciating each other, having good work ethic and equipping everyone with the right skills to grow long-term.
February 9, 2020
There are a few gems in this one, but otherwise it was just ok. Some of my favorite points:
- To win games, you need to believe that you can. But also, confidence is born only of demonstrated ability. Maybe this sounds like a catch-22, but even small successes can be extremely powerful in helping people believe in themselves. Set small, visible goals; when people achieve them, they start to get it in their heads that they can succeed. They break the habit of feeling like they're losing and shift to feeling like they're winning. When people start acting in ways that fulfill these clear, easily reached goals, make sure everybody knows it and accentuate the positives at every possible opportunity - but also emphasize the next goal we need to fulfill to stay on track. Set small goals and hit them.
- Confrontation is healthy. Be direct in feedback so that the receiver clearly understands and knows what they need to do to be better. People like the direct approach. It is much more valuable to have a leader who is absolutely clear and open than someone who soft-soaps or talks in circles. Let people know that you think they are better than they think they are. They can do better and more than they think they can - but they won't unless you tell them what it is first.
- Exploit individual qualities while mitigating the risks the same qualities entail. Everyone is unique and special in their own way. We must do our best to figure out what that is and bring it to the surface so they can live up to their best potential.
- People often perceive cynicism as indicative of smarts and cunning even if it is rarely helpful. Sometimes we find the contemptuous more capable, even if useless for all practical purposes. This is a helpful bias to be aware of.
- To win games, you need to believe that you can. But also, confidence is born only of demonstrated ability. Maybe this sounds like a catch-22, but even small successes can be extremely powerful in helping people believe in themselves. Set small, visible goals; when people achieve them, they start to get it in their heads that they can succeed. They break the habit of feeling like they're losing and shift to feeling like they're winning. When people start acting in ways that fulfill these clear, easily reached goals, make sure everybody knows it and accentuate the positives at every possible opportunity - but also emphasize the next goal we need to fulfill to stay on track. Set small goals and hit them.
- Confrontation is healthy. Be direct in feedback so that the receiver clearly understands and knows what they need to do to be better. People like the direct approach. It is much more valuable to have a leader who is absolutely clear and open than someone who soft-soaps or talks in circles. Let people know that you think they are better than they think they are. They can do better and more than they think they can - but they won't unless you tell them what it is first.
- Exploit individual qualities while mitigating the risks the same qualities entail. Everyone is unique and special in their own way. We must do our best to figure out what that is and bring it to the surface so they can live up to their best potential.
- People often perceive cynicism as indicative of smarts and cunning even if it is rarely helpful. Sometimes we find the contemptuous more capable, even if useless for all practical purposes. This is a helpful bias to be aware of.
January 20, 2019
It’s a mind jolter but not too much more !
It just didn’t flow for me. In fairness, it was meant to be a series of articles or interviews each of which gave us different insights into the relationship if any between sports and business. I did gain some valuable insights but as a read, I just found it disjointed as it jumped from article to interview and then back again. Have finished it and felt that I just could have gained more with my time on another book. 5/10 from me !! Bernie K
It just didn’t flow for me. In fairness, it was meant to be a series of articles or interviews each of which gave us different insights into the relationship if any between sports and business. I did gain some valuable insights but as a read, I just found it disjointed as it jumped from article to interview and then back again. Have finished it and felt that I just could have gained more with my time on another book. 5/10 from me !! Bernie K
October 2, 2021
As usual HBR must read never fails, but combining management with sports is always a great idea for learning about success and discipline. This book is a compile of 15 articles and interviews about leadership and team work around an industry which is not precisely easy as sports. From Sir Alex Ferguson to Greg Louganis and Andre Agassi the book has a development of what good management should be and also how to learn about mistakes or let’s say lessons. As I always say while I teach, for me sports is one of the greatest managements! #excellent
May 16, 2020
As an avid fan of sports and someone working in business, I loved some of the articles but this unique intersection of business and sports was bogged down by 2-3 terrible entries. I thought the “There is an I in Team” and “Why Sports are a Terrible Metaphor for Business” were awful and a couple athlete interviews (Baryshnikov) were eye-rollers. 5 stars for most articles and interviews but the stinkers dilute the book substantially.
January 4, 2022
I absolutely loved this book. Short lessons, simple to follow, and some great tips. I also loved the connection through sports, and the real life examples given. Great read for any manager or leader.
December 29, 2019
The last three articles are mind blowing. The rest of them are ok. If you really like sports, this would be a pretty easy read to understand.
December 29, 2021
Thought I would enjoy this as much as the rest of the HBR ive read before… nonetheless, it was an interesting lesson on sports-related leadership and how we can apply at work!
June 23, 2020
HBR-sports
I started reading it a long ago, initially it was good,
we just have to keep up the morale in keeping in mind not to finish it, perhaps, learning things.
It inspired me not to skip my workout goals.
I am happy
I started reading it a long ago, initially it was good,
we just have to keep up the morale in keeping in mind not to finish it, perhaps, learning things.
It inspired me not to skip my workout goals.
I am happy
November 15, 2025
As i read this book i cross referenced it with with by Dr.Begel's book #SportsPsychiatry . He has a sound understanding of psychodynamic of an athlete. I think the leadership in sports is laden with institutionalised narcissistic behaviour which is often malignant . Cases of professional athletes brutalising their spouse are often swept under the rug . As a developing clinician I have become interested in researching sociopathic /psychopathic behaviour among successful professional athletes . I am disappointed to note that athletes are always on the wrong side on the Narcissism spectrum .
I reading this book i am noting what constitutes leadership in sports? The book answers my questions . I would not consider this model of leadership exemplary. It leaves the athletes exacerbated in many ways .
I reading this book i am noting what constitutes leadership in sports? The book answers my questions . I would not consider this model of leadership exemplary. It leaves the athletes exacerbated in many ways .
November 3, 2019
Great, quick read! This book offered a series of interviews and short stories shared by reputable people in the sports world and the connection their leadership role may or may not have to a business setting. I loved hearing about the struggles and methods these people used to overcome the challenges they faced in their professional careers.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews