He is one of Britain’s most famous athletes and a key member of the relay squad that won gold at the 1991 World Championships in Tokyo. A year later, he made Olympic history when, following a hamstring injury, his father helped him cross the line in the 400m semi-final, to the standing ovation of a 65,000-strong crowd. Derek Redmond’s imprint on the world of sports is still talked about today, and was even referenced by Barack Obama in a presidential speech.
Derek’s remarkable story is a true testament to the power of ambition and perseverance. As the keynote speaker at In-house Recruitment LIVE! Manchester, he will share his best insights to inspire in-house teams to work together to deliver brilliant results. We dig into the mind of the gold medalist ahead of his keynote talk on 10th May.
Today, Derek is one of the most engaging motivational speakers in the world, training businesses across the globe to constantly strive for success. Following his departure from professional sports over two decades ago, Derek is drawing upon his experience as part of a winning athletic team to empower individuals to follow their ambitions at every cost.
“I find that the mindset of a successful business person is no different from that of a successful sportsperson,” Derek says. “We all have to come together to work well as a team.”
Regardless of industry or background, the characteristics of a winning team are universal: good communication, innovative thinking and self-awareness. “You need to understand yourself as much as your other team members and where necessary modify your behaviours so that you can communicate and work more harmoniously together.”
Man on the Moon
When President John F. Kennedy visited NASA in 1962 and noticed a janitor carrying a broom, he walked over to the man and said, “Hi, I’m Jack Kennedy. What are you doing?” To which the janitor responded, “Well, Mr. President, I’m helping put a man on the moon.” Fifty years later, that mindset is more relevant than ever, Derek believes.
Regardless of your position in your organisation, you’re still part of a team and whatever your task is, if delivered right it will help your team move forward. “Everyone has an important role to play, otherwise they wouldn’t be part of that team,” Derek adds.
“Great teams are made up of great individuals. I like to look at every individual within a team and try to get the best out of each of them, regardless if they are a leader or not.”
Keep Your Eye on the Ball
While it’s important to stay ahead of the competition to get the best outcomes, focusing too much on your competitors’ performance will only slow you down. “The worst you can do is look at what everybody else is doing and take your eye off the ball. If you’ve got the right people in the right place, just focus on what you do best and you can achieve any goal,” Derek believes.
Don’t miss Derek’s keynote presentation “Gunning for Gold; the Mindset of a Successful Olympic and World Athlete” to learn how to make the most out of your in-house recruitment team.
