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Can cycling teach you how to lead a team?

Can cycling teach you how to lead a team?

Rolf Sigmund emphasizes that leadership can greatly benefit from the lessons learned in sports, particularly in terms of setting ambitious goals and maintaining physical fitness. He notes that good physical condition correlates with improved mental health, which enhances work performance and team management. Sigmund encourages leaders to embrace a mindset that values perseverance and the ability to handle setbacks, as these traits are essential in achieving company values and effective communication. He reflects on his own journey in cycling, where training and mental determination played crucial roles in completing a challenging 165-kilometre race. Ultimately, understanding oneself is key to navigating career paths and achieving professional growth. According to Rolf Sigmund, "knowing yourself" can significantly influence your career trajectory and satisfaction. Don't miss more tips and insights on leadership and team management in the full episode.

2026·Season 2·Episode 6Highlight
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Rolf Sigmund · Board Member / ex-Managing Director

Leadership insights

Watch the full "The Unboxing Talks" Serie

Transcription

00:03

WHAT LEADERSHIP CAN LEARN FROM SPORT Let's see what's left in the box.

00:13

Okay, a chain and a wrench."Can riding a bike teach you how to lead a team?" Well, that's something I learned fairly late.

00:25

Looking back,I can say that I never did much sport,and now I realise the positive effects and also all the side effects that come with keeping physically fit.

00:45

I think when you're young, you feel you don't have time,there's family as well,and, in the end, your physical condition is something...

00:53

that becomes secondary.But it's something I'd recommend to everyone.

00:58

Good physical condition means good mental condition,which leads to better performance at work.

01:05

What's more,sport sometimes allows us to set ourselves big personal goals.

01:13

And that also shows in a mix of:"How much effort,how much energy do I put into training?" But then there's also that mental side:"I have a goal and I want to achieve it." And suddenly you realise so many things are happening in your head.

01:33

And I think there's also things that can also be carried over into the workplace.

01:38

And I recommend everyone to give it a try.And nowadays,I'd like to surround myself with people who are also in good shape,because, in the end,I believe they're the best managers,as they know how to handle defeats,like those that are normal in sport.

02:01

They're always setting new goals.That's a positive attitude.

02:08

And I'll share a little story.I always did a bit of sport, but never very much.

02:16

And now I've decided to take up cycling.And from there came the crazy idea of signing up for a 165-kilometre race with 2,500 metres of altitude.

02:31

And to do it...I actually managed it,but in the end I told myself that half of it was thanks to training, but the other half depended on the mind,on what went on there.

02:42

And it was a very beautiful experience.So I recommend it to everyone.

02:47

If you had taken part in that cycling race 20 years ago,what would you have done differently in your career as a leader,as...

02:57

well, as country manager at L'Oréal?That's a very good...

03:02

Very good question.Perhaps at times I'd have set even more ambitious goals and said: "Look, we can achieve this and if not,we'll have trained hard for it and learned things that will help us keep growing." And yes, I think that...

03:22

that is something I'd take away.And what would have been a more ambitious goal?

03:27

Is there anything you might have liked to try again?

03:31

Obviously, one wonders if they have reached the top of their career,being a country manager in a company of this size.

03:43

Or why they never became part of the executive committee.

03:47

And there may be two answers to that.I think I didn't make it because perhaps I didn't set myself ambitious enough goals and because, by nature,I tend to treat achievements with great humility.

04:05

I found it more important to achieve good results than to talk about them.

04:09

And in other cultures,they know how to sell that much better.

04:14

But on the other hand,I think I found the role that best suited what I know and what I can contribute.

04:24

And perhaps that's one of the greatest lessons I've learned:really knowing yourself is key to understanding what you can reach and what you cannot.

04:38

And I think that was my greatest satisfaction.Having reached that level and having been happy with it.

04:48

And I think that's also why I was able to perform well and sleep better at night.