Transformation is a crucial word for athletes. Their bodies transform with time, impacting what they can or want to do. Most of them will need to transition from competition to other forms of expressing their talents at a certain point.
A similar process happens with people who work in sports in other roles. Our careers evolve as we have new experiences, participate in different events, and assume more significant responsibilities. Our work transforms us as we confront what we don’t know, last-minute issues, and relationships that challenge us.
Changing is not necessarily easy. There may be ups and downs. There are moments when we would like to stay in the comfortable and known space where we were. Other times, we are excited about what is emerging and what we are building. However, transformation is inevitable, and we either appreciate or fight with it.
The sports industry is changing, and the world is as well. New people are coming in, pushing for more coherence, diversity, equity, and sustainability. They accept less and less the old rules of the game. At the same time, technology is evolving, dissolving the boundaries of what is a natural or enhanced body.
The planet is also changing, confronting us with the challenges of organising sports events in a global warming scenario. All these changes considered, we have to develop the muscles necessary to accept, appreciate and surrender to constant transformation. Because when all of the current transition ends, others will come.
What are the ideal conditions to make people receptive to transformation? Indeed, it requires flexibility of mind and trust that the process will lead to something better. Transformation will hurt if the sports community cultivates rigidity, holds to old concepts and ways of working, and resists the changes as if they were terrible.
We launched the current article series, TEC-HEART-SPORT, which is now coming to an end because we want to open these conversations. Talk about the transforming cultural aspects of the sports community that are often not given the necessary attention.
We want to be part of the transformation. Our team discusses now, more than ever, topics that, for a long time, were tangent for us – such as sustainability. We have changed, and we are just in the beginning.
In this process, sometimes we disagree or struggle to conciliate business needs with our high ideals. But we always find a way out because we believe in the power of transformation. We become better.
We hope that our clients, partners, and the people who follow our texts, podcasts, and vlogs are joining or will want to join this conversation. Transformation starts when we create together a safe space where the old can be questioned, and new possibilities may emerge.
Something as simple as regular rounds of conversations with our teams to discuss themes that matter to them. Or having a person or a space where people can go to talk about their ideas or things that bother them. Or organising events where people can design inspiring visions for the future of sports and their organisations.
We are already enhancing transformation by not silencing dissenting voices or new ideas. Instead of refusing to listen or responding in a way that crushes people’s arguments, we can leave the space open for the unknown. For letting divergence evolve and become a new convergence, a new solution.
What if we committed to transforming ourselves and our organisations? What if we could transform sports together and let sports naturally transform the world?
TEC – HEART – SPORT is our latest series of articles explaining the mission, vision, and culture that Legacy Sport shares with its community and the world. See below for a summary of each topic we will explore during the series.
Thrill
Expertise
Courage
Humanism
Empathy
Advocacy
Respect
Transparency
Sustainability
People
Olympism
Relationships
Transformation
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