The strategic thinking of Lance Armstrong and Ivan Fernandez Anaya
2013-01-21
There are some lessons in leadership and strategic thinking from the major
sporting news events these past days.
In startling contrast is Lance Armstrong's confession to Oprah (
2.22
video
) and Ivan Fernandez Anaya's
incredible gesture (
1:26 video
) to
Kenyan Abel Mutai in a cross-country race in Burlada, Navarre. Mutai, who had
stopped short of the line believing he had finished was helped over the line
by Anaya who coming second had caught up with him.
Said Anaya afterwards, "I didn't deserve to win it. I did what I had to do. He
was the rightful winner. He created a gap that I couldn't have closed if he
hadn't made a mistake. As soon as I saw he was stopping, I knew I wasn't going
to pass him."
The contrast illustrates the difference between long and short term strategic
thinking.
Armstrong won many battles and lost the war, his career and now a large chunk
of his life.
Anaya just lost a single battle but moved his and sports' campaign forward on
a number of others.
Image source: http://bit.ly/XCydAS