I was going to write about something else and then I went to Wimbledon

What this world class event taught me about running a business…

I don’t often cry on a Tuesday afternoon. This Tuesday however, I was weeping. I wasn’t at a particularly intense board meeting, or giving out Open University degrees or with a young female founder trying to raise finance, I was court side at Wimbledon. The experience of watching the nail biting men’s and women’s quarter finals would have moved even the hardest heart.

You are probably tuning into the finals later or maybe, oh horror, have delayed reading the business section until Monday for the same reason. So, in honour of the five sets that the last two might have to power through to win, here are five pieces of business inspiration that I took from my incredible live experience.

First, product obsession. Completely by chance, as we were trying to get a taxi home from the venue, we ended up sharing our ride with a tennis coach from Palm Springs. Always interested in perspectives from visitors to the UK, I asked him if what I was feeling was real to him too - was Wimbledon really that good? His answer was immediate and definitive. Yes. After 101 years, Wimbledon is still the best and this is because “the attention to detail has never faltered and it is coupled with constant and continual improvement”. He cited how the facilities are pristine for players and audience alike. Even a novice like me could see how beautifully everything was organised, from the cleanliness of all the buildings to the generous number of staff on hand at every turn to help you. This balance of preserving the best parts of your product while not being blind to the parts that need an upgrade is hard. For heritage and legacy brands, this can be especially tricky.

Second, talent management. One of Wimbledon's enduring legacies lies within its acute focus on talent. The All England Lawn Tennis Club, the operational body behind the tournament, has consistently identified and nurtured exceptional players. There are many formal mechanisms such as the outreach in schools, junior tournaments and the programmes to mentor younger players. Right now, according to a recent Open University report, only 27% of businesses are investing in training and development. Perhaps it is worth thinking about your future workforce more like the players you are going to need over the next decade. Short changing development will have consequences.

But it is not just the nurturing of the younger generation of players that  struck me. Irena Svetlina’s dramatic journey to knock out the number-one seed was remarkable. Freshly returned from maternity leave, with no recent games to her name, she was awarded wildcard status and fought her way to the final few. How about more of this mentality for the managers of new parents returning to work? Perhaps it is worth considering their future potential more than their recent absence. In fact, it's not just creativity for returners, but perhaps more wildcards and less process in all talent management is an idea worth copying. 

Third, digitisation. Wimbledon demonstrates the delicate balance many companies are striking between technology and human interaction. The tournament has seamlessly incorporated cutting-edge advances while preserving the intimate connection between players and fans and the audiences at home. Innovations such as electronic line calling and sophisticated data analytics have brought greater accuracy and insight to the game. However, Wimbledon also understands the value of maintaining human involvement. The highly trained and expert ball boys and girls, umpires and the stewards all add to the brand. It is tough to navigate where to keep people and where to automate, and these are decisions that Wimbledon, like every business, is working through.

Fourth, a global outlook. Wimbledon is watched by nearly a billion people worldwide and more than 60 countries are represented in the main draw. 500,000 people visit the event. There are knotty questions to unpick, such as the status of Russian and Belarus nationals in the competition and the security concerns that come with a multinational, multicultural event. Yet, at its heart it is open and inclusive. With the economic choppiness most businesses are navigating this year, these values are best held close.

Finally, the last and greatest inspiration must come from the players themselves. In the programme, I read an interview with Novak Djokovic where he described being two or three games down in one of the tournaments. In the locker room he “shouted positive things” at himself in the mirror. He went back out and won. Perhaps it’s time to hang a mirror behind your desk to prep before the next board meeting, or quarterly results?

Through injuries, match point setbacks, and grueling physical and mental challenges, these athletes epitomize unwavering determination. It is true in business too. It is rare for a company to become world class without extreme commitment, sacrifice and hard work.

When I was invited to Wimbledon, I never imagined I would leave with my brain fizzing. I took away so much more than just the insane gladiatorial combat I saw on the grass. Maybe the real match point is to try and have a day completely away from normal working life every now and then.