I was listening to an interview with one of the San Jose Sharks players after they advanced to the Conference finals following a tough, nail-biting series with the Detroit Red Wings. The Sharks have never gone this far in the Stanley Cup Playoffs before, and the interviewer asked what was the key to their success so far: was it their maturing roster, never-say-quit determination, the unbelievable play of their goalie? While all of these could be factors in their advancement, his answer was surprising - and very insightful.
No, he said, it was actually something outside of playing in the NHL. It was the experience that several of the team's players had in last year's Olympic Games. He shared that being in the locker room with so many other NHL stars who had extensive playoff experience brought a calmness, composure and confidence that was contagious. They had been in those high-stakes circumstances before - they knew what to expect, how to prepare and how to act. That, he said, was what they learned and that gave them the edge to outlast a very experienced opponent in Detroit.
So think about your field of work: who are the best-in-class leaders in your field that you should be learning from? Who are you leaning on for experience and insight? What are you intentionally doing to surround yourself with the best - to get exposure to those from whom you can learn the keys to success in your field?
Who is in the locker room with you - giving you the confidence and composure to reach your goals?
