“What if” planning

Episode Number

8

Drawing from personal stories, including insights from my son’s athletic journey and an Olympic gold medalist, I reflect on how athletes train for uncertainty and how we can bring that mindset into our everyday business challenges.

In this solo episode, I explore the powerful parallels between sport and business – and the big lesson we often miss: the importance of “what if” planning.

Drawing from personal stories, including insights from my son’s athletic journey and an Olympic gold medalist, I reflect on how athletes train for uncertainty and how we can bring that mindset into our everyday business challenges.

I walk through how to anticipate problems, develop contingency plans, and rehearse for real-world scenarios – especially the small, high-stakes moments that rarely get planned for. You’ll hear how something as simple as asking for a pause in a difficult meeting can be a strategic, intentional move.

If you’re a leader or change maker looking for ways to build resilience, reduce stress, and perform with more clarity – this episode is your reminder that preparation isn’t just for athletes. It’s for all of us.

Here are the highlights:

Sport and Business: Similarities and Differences (1:02)
Unique Challenges in Business and Sport (2:28)
Applying “What If Planning” in Business (4:26)
Practical Steps for “What If Planning” (7:49)

Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify

Share:

More Podcast Episodes

Calling Out Power: Ethics, Lobbying, and Leading With Conviction

I sat down with Gabe Winn, founder of Blakeney, and honestly, his career path is a full plot twist marathon.

Actor dreams, Accenture, game ranger training in Zimbabwe, then yes, a BBC show that involved being trained like a spy, and somehow it all makes sense once you hear how he thinks about people, purpose, and influence.

The HR Space - a year-long group support process designed specifically for senior HR practitioners

Why Your Team Won’t Change Until You Do

Today I’m talking about the part we usually skip, the connection between what you do and how others respond. If you want new behaviours in your team, you have to be the stimulus, consistently.