Growing up, I spent more time on the basketball court than in the classroom. It’s not that I didn’t value education — I was an economics major with a business administration minor, after all — but sports was where I found my real teachers.

The court was my training ground, the place where I learned to navigate the pressures, the victories and the setbacks that would later define my approach to business leadership.

When it comes to the life moments that shaped me, it’s the lessons learned as an athlete that come to mind first. The structure, discipline and relentless pursuit of excellence that sports demanded have remained my compass in the corporate world.

The most important lesson of all: confidence. Confidence is the fuel that drives success. It’s the intangible edge that separates good from great in sports and business.

The skills I honed as a player — teamwork, resilience and strategic thinking — are the ones that continue to guide me as a leader.

4 leadership lessons from the court

Though confidence is the most important lesson of all, it’s only the foundation of the equation. To excel, you need to pair it with a few other key components. Here’s what competitive sports can teach about learning the art of leadership:

1. Let failure fuel you

In life, you’ll face more setbacks than successes, but each one can teach you something invaluable. The great coaches in life, much like the great leaders in business, understand that your fiercest competitor isn’t the person across from you; it’s the limits you place on yourself.

Failure isn’t a loss but a lesson in accountability. It’s not about blaming circumstances or opponents; it’s about asking yourself, “Did I truly give it my best?”

Every defeat offers a chance to evaluate and improve, to come back stronger and more prepared. This mindset shift — from fearing failure to learning from it — is what turns obstacles into stepping stones for future success.

2. Master communication across all levels

In sports, you quickly learn that getting along with others is essential. Whether you’re dealing with teammates or coaches, you have to make it work. You learn to be a good teammate first, and that creates a culture of collaboration.

In business, effective communication is the lifeblood of any successful team. You need to navigate relationships both vertically with your superiors and horizontally with your colleagues.

Teams are made up of individuals from diverse backgrounds, united by common goals, whether it’s winning a championship or achieving a business objective. The highs and lows you experience together teach you how to win and lose as a unit, and how to keep moving forward regardless.

This experience is invaluable in business, where the ability to communicate and collaborate across all levels is often the difference between success and failure.

3. Live life with grit

Grit is one of those traits that’s hard to teach but is critical for long-term success. It’s about being comfortable with discomfort, about grinding through the tough times when no one’s watching. No one is going to applaud you for the extra hours you put in when everyone else has called it a day, but that’s what it takes to be successful.

Grit is consistency, the kind of persistence that doesn’t waver after a week or a month of hard work. It’s what separates those who are good for a season from those who are great for a lifetime. Successful people share this trait: They show up day after day, putting in the work, even when it’s hard, even when they don’t feel like it. That’s the kind of resilience that gets results.

4. Manage it all

Sports really teaches you how to juggle a packed schedule. My son, a college athlete, is living proof of this. Between training, academics and maintaining a social life, his plate is constantly full. But this rigorous schedule has taught him how to prioritize, how to manage his time efficiently and how to push through even when he’s exhausted.

It’s similar in business. There are always demands on your time, always something that needs to be done. The ability to balance it all without burning out is a skill that sports instills in people early on. It’s not just about working hard; it’s about working smart, about knowing when to push and when to pull back. This is the kind of discipline that spills over into every aspect of life.

Success is achievable

The parallels between athletics and business are undeniable. The lessons from the field — learning from setbacks, mastering communication, building grit and managing time — are invaluable in the corporate world. As the 2024 Summer Paris Olympics continues with the Paralympic Games, I’m reminded of the way these four lessons still inform my day-to-day, and hope they’re also guiding you through any competitive challenges that come your way.