Performing Regardless - Business and the Paralympics

by Adrian Tripp, CEO of The EBA

I was kindly invited to be a guest of BP at the closing ceremony of the Paralympics. Before the ceremony, BP organised Tanni Grey-Thompson and Chris Holmes two very successful British Paralympians to speak about the games and sport in general.
 
In a subsequent exchange with Luc Bardin, BP’s Group Sales and Marketing Chief, we both agreed the significant message that Chris delivered and that of the Paralympics, was to think about what we ‘can do’ rather than ‘what we can’t do’.
 
I think for all of us in the business community, it is poignant.
 
The economic climate, the levels of debt, the banks, the regulation, the competition are all reasons we could use for not succeeding. And with present conditions, shareholders and employees are generally sympathetic to patchy performance. But in business as in sport it is those that push the boundaries, persevere and refuse to see the obstacles as obstacles, that go furthest and fastest.
 
For the Paralympians, many of them have to overcome such significant obstacles just to get to the start line, that it gives the rest of us little excuse for not going out and making it happen. And as Luc pointed out, it is that same ‘can do’ characteristic that the National Finalists in the European Business Awards demonstrate.  
 
The majority of Finalists are not from industry sectors that are buoyant or  growing, quite often the reverse, but they don’t accept that as a reason for average performance, they innovate, they push, they question and they find ways to overcome the obstacles. Just like the Paralympians and Olympians.  
 
Our political leaders need to address the significant economic and structural challenges that most nations of Europe face, but we can’t wait for them or use them as an excuse, we need to follow the lead of our National Finalists and make it happen regardless.