With the eyes of the world on Paris, France, for the 33rd Olympiad, which events are you looking forward to? Do you know that the surfing competition will take place 9,770 miles away from Paris in Teahupo'o, Tahiti, an island in French Polynesia? In the spirit of previous leadership series here on my blog, I've asked 17 leadership and marketing experts to respond to five questions with the hope that both the questions and answers lead you to think about the Olympics in new and interesting ways.
For today's post, I'd like to introduce Susan Friesen. Susan is a visionary brand strategist, entrepreneur, and founder of British Columbia’s premiere boutique web development and digital marketing agency, eVision Media. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, she’s an expert in helping businesses to establish their online presence and create a strong brand identity. Her passion for empowering female entrepreneurs to succeed in the digital world has earned her a reputation as a leading authority in the marketing industry.
Before we begin, here are my two favorite quotes about the Olympics:
"In baseball and in business, there are three types of people. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen, and those who wonder what happened." ~Tommy Lasorda (Team USA Baseball Manager in 1984 and Olympic gold medalist)
"You have to believe in yourself when no one else does — that makes you a winner right there." ~Venus Williams (Team USA Tennis, 4-time Olympic gold medalist)
QUESTION: What Olympic MOMENT do you most vividly recall, and why?
SUSAN FRIESEN: It was Sydney Crosby's overtime goal at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver (Canada) that beat the USA team in Hockey. The Canadian team was just seconds away from winning the game when the U.S. tied up the game. We were all crestfallen when this happened, but Crosby had the whole country on its feet when he shot from a seemingly impossible angle and scored the winning goal! The best part about this was not only that Canada beat the U.S. to win the gold, but they did this at home – making it Canada's first Olympic men's hockey gold earned on Canadian ice!
QUESTION: What Olympic MOMENT OR EVENT stands out due to EITHER a lack of OR evidence of LEADERSHIP?
SUSAN FRIESEN: What was evident for me was the 2020 Olympics when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) chief had been turning a blind eye to doping and financial scandals, especially perpetrated by the Russians. This is not a political rant by any means as this has been the standard operating procedure for Olympic presidents for decades. The issue with these leaders is that they have put revenues from TV and corporate sponsorships above the safety of the athletes.
QUESTION: What Olympic SPORT demonstrates effective and/or inspirational leadership?
SUSAN FRIESEN: One of the sports that comes to mind that demonstrates effective leadership is rowing. The team captain is not only responsible for being an exceptional athlete along with the rest of the team but is also there to motivate, encourage, and lead the team to victory. Even under the most pressurized situations, they must maintain control and demonstrate excellence for their teammates to emulate.
QUESTION: What is an important BUSINESS LESSON we can learn from the Olympics?
SUSAN FRIESEN: Like the Olympics and in business, the best leaders use conscious cues to shape their culture and act consistently. In a team that often has high-profile work to deliver under pressure, the leader uses "no one gets left behind" as a cue for the team to support each other when they must work above and beyond the normal allotted time. In a team that is responsible for communicating complex data urgently, the leader uses "do the work to make it simple" to ensure that the team keeps the customers front of mind. Like an Olympic coach, a business leader can experiment and refine their cues, stories, and phrases. They are simple and powerful tools that come to define what it means to be part of that team, to provide clarity in moments of pressure, and ultimately to drive consistently high standards when they matter most.
SHARE THIS: Like an Olympic coach, a business leader can experiment and refine their cues, stories, and phrases...to provide clarity in moments of pressure. ~@eVisionMedia #OlympicsLeadershipSeries #DebbieLaskeysBlog
QUESTION: If YOU competed in the Olympics, which sport would you choose, and why?
SUSAN FRIESEN: Figure skating! Which is odd because I do not know how to skate. As a child, the only way I could get on the ice was by using a training bar, but I love watching the sport. I love the sport not just for the creative expression demonstrated on ice, but also for demonstrating the discipline needed to hone such a technical and creative craft.
My gratitude to Susan for sharing her leadership insights and for being a part of my #OlympicsLeadershipSeries.
Image Credit: Stockton University.
Read more about the 2010 Olympics men's ice hockey final:
Connect with Susan at these links:
Website: https://eVisionMedia.ca
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susan.evisionmedia/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evisionmedia/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eVisionMedia
Check out Susan’s previous appearances here on my blog:
SPRING LEADERSHIP SERIES – Featuring Susan Friesen (June 2024)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2024/06/spring-leadership-series-featuring.html
FALL BACK TO READING SERIES – Featuring Susan Friesen (October 2023)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2023/10/fall-back-to-reading-series-featuring_02107667638.html
Digital Engagement Tips to Attract Customers and Fans (November 2022)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/11/digital-engagement-tips-to-attract.html
The Importance of Brand Identity (November 2021)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2021/11/the-importance-of-brand-identity.html
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