We often can’t do what record-breaking performers do. But we can learn how their mind works and think like they think.
Olympic Swimmer Regan Smith
On Tuesday night, June 18th, three-time Olympic medalist Regan Smith lowered herself into the pool and got into position to swim the women’s 100-meter backstroke. The objective was to qualify for this year’s United States Olympic team. This race had a deeper meaning for her than normal because Australian Kaylee McKeown had recently set the world record in the event with a time of 57.33 seconds. Smith not only wanted to make the Olympic team, but also top McKeown’s mark.
Once the gun started to begin the race, Smith set out on what would become a historically fast pace. So much so, she set the world record with a time of 57.13 seconds. Below is a video of her performance.
Just moments afterwards, she told NBC Sports commentator Melissa Stark, “It was part of the plan. I’m so proud of myself. Backstroke is hard for me sometimes, but to fight back like this and to get that (the world record) back means a lot.”
Further reflecting on her performance, Smith would take “a couple minutes to be really proud of what I accomplished and then it’s back to work. I’ve got more things I want to accomplish this week.”
When the best leaders achieve a major milestone or have a significant victory, what are they thinking about at that very moment? Or, what should they be thinking about? Smith’s comments to Stark gave us a window into their thought process.
How Record-Breaking Leaders Think
The following are five surprising (or not so surprising) things top leaders in their industries are always thinking:
- They are thinking about their process and how their initial plans played out.
- They reflect on the price which was needed to achieve their success. For more on this topic, read The Price of Success: 10 Costs the Boston Celtics Paid to Win the NBA Championship No One is Talking About… Except Jaylen Brown.
- They are grateful. As you saw in the video above, Smith thanked everyone involved in her record-breaking performance. A leader who can’t be grateful and celebrate, even for a moment, is not a leader worth following.
- They think about getting back to work.
- They think about what is the next thing they need to accomplish.
Regan Smith gave us immediate insight into what she was thinking following her world record performance. The question all leaders need to ask themselves is are they thinking the same things after achieving their goals and objectives?
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