Harnessing the Passion of Team Sports: Motivational Lessons for Leaders of Change

People are so passionate about team sports. Can leaders harness a similar passion and motivation in their organisation?

When we think of passion we tend to think of team sports. But we rarely if ever see any of this passion in our organisations. What can leaders of change to do harness this passion and build winning teams!

The Euros are on and what is remarkable is the amount of passion that people, show towards their football team. People dedicate the focus of their lives around it. They travel far and wide, come together, and dream that their team may win. Whilst talking endlessly about how and why it might happen.

Why Are So Many People So Passionate and Engaged With Team Sports?

1. A Passionate Sense of Belonging and Community:

Identity and loyalty

People care the more strongly they identify strongly with their teams, feeling a sense of belonging and pride. Research suggests the probability of being a highly passionate sports fan doubles from 12% to 24% if that passion is shared with another person.

Shared Experience

Watching or participating in sports creates a shared experience, fostering community and companionship. People rarely feel lonely in those situations. 80% fans who are surrounded by a highly passionate fans are highly passionate too according to research by Two Circles.

2. Passionate Emotional Engagement:

Drama and Excitement

Whilst we normally think people hate unpredictability, in those situations people love it. Especially in close contests, full of threat and dramatic moments create intense emotional highs and lows.

A series of studies by Piff and colleagues found that when people perceive life as unpredictable, they tend to savor positive experiences more intensely.

Passion and Rivalry

Fans and players alike exhibit deep passion and rivalry, which adds to the excitement. The threat of another team has people at the edge of their seat.

3. A Passi0n For Skill and Originality:

Admiration for Talent

Watching highly skilled people perform at the edge of their ability doing things we cannot do ourselves. Studies have demonstrated that fans experience a sense of pride and motivation when they watch their favorite athletes excel, leading to an increase in their own aspirations and efforts to achieve personal goals. 

Unique Moments

It is the uniqueness of certain moments that define the narrative that draws people in. These moments often transcend the sport itself and become cultural touchstones that unite people and inspire them. 

For instance, Nelson Mandela’s appearance at the 1995 Rugby World Cup, where he wore the South African team’s rugby jersey, (which had traditionally been a ‘white’ sport) is a powerful example of how a single moment can symbolise unity and hope. Such moments are not just about the event but about what they represent—overcoming adversity, achieving the seemingly impossible, and bringing people together​ (World Economic Forum)

4. Passionate Storytelling:

Narrative and Heroes:

Sports create compelling narratives, with heroes, underdogs, and villains.

Sports narratives often mirror classical storytelling structures, providing audiences with relatable and emotionally engaging content. This dynamic is particularly effective in enhancing experience, as research suggests the presence of heroes and villains creates moral tension and dramatic arcs that captivate fans​ 

Historical Significance:

Any event is laid in contrast with previous deeds are they doing something that fights a narrative of failure or changing it to one of success.

5. Strategy and Competition:

Mental Engagement: 

The strategic game of who is on top why and what can be done better and the pattern of the team as a whole engages people brains in complex problem-solving.

Research indicates that sports fans engage in complex cognitive processes similar to those experienced by players. Fans often analyse team strategies, player performance, and game outcomes, which stimulates their brains and enhances problem-solving skills. 

Competition and Achievement:

The competitive nature of sports and the pursuit of victory resonate with people’s innate competitive instincts. Whilst we ourselves are physically (if not always mentally) safe. A US study involving youth participants found that those engaged in team sports reported fewer mental health difficulties compared to their peers in individual sports or no sports at all

How Can Leaders of Change Harness The Passion Of Team Sports?

1. Building a Strong Culture and Identity:

• Unifying Vision: Like a team has a common goal (winning), organisations should have an inspiring vision changes people’s perceptions and unifies people around a common identity.
• Inclusivity: Foster a sense of belonging and inclusivity where every member feels `valued and part of the bigger picture.

2. Emotional Engagement:

• Motivation and Morale: Maintain high levels of motivation and morale through recognition, celebrations of success, but also recognising the up’s and downs of your journey.
• Handling Setbacks: A setback adds to your story and can help bring people together behind a common cause. Don’t deny setbacks, embrace them.

3. Skill Development and Team Dynamics:

• Continuous Improvement: Encourage continuous development of skills and abilities, fostering learning and growth.
• Synergy: Look for synergies and encourage people to collaborate and work together. Build interdependent relationships that create a natural drive towards a common goal.

4. Effective Storytelling and Communication:

• Narrative Building: Create compelling narratives about the organisation’s journey, as well as the individuals that make up the team. Celebrate your successes, and recognise challenges to inspire and engage employees.
• Transparency: Maintain open and transparent communication to build trust and commitment.

5. Strategy and Adaptability:

• Strategic Planning: Engage people in what you are doing and how and why you are doing as an ongoing conversation. Engage teams horizontally across the organisation and not just vertically. 
• Agility and Innovation: Be prepared to pivot and innovate, much like sports teams adjust their strategies in response to the dynamics of a game. Enable people to compete in an environment of psychological safety.

Conclusion

The incredible passion and engagement seen in team sports can give leaders inspiration to improve motivation within their organisations. Fostering a strong sense of belonging, creating emotional connections, and continuously developing skills. Effective storytelling and strategic adaptability can help in maintaining this environment, allowing organisations to thrive and adapt. Embracing these principles can lead to highly motivated, collaborative, and resilient teams, spiriting the organisation towards its goals turning their staff into passionate fans.