The Tennis Game

Reflections on the Challenges of Being a C Player on the B Team

I love to play tennis and I play a few times a week. A couple of years ago I joined a league for competitive playing.  Like everything in life that's competitive in nature, there are levels of ability, and finding the right level for satisfaction and success is an ongoing challenge.

I joined the C team  and won most of my matches.   That felt great, especially when the coach invited me to play on the B team.  I was excited and flattered to think I really belonged on the B level.  Until my record became 2 wins 9 losses.  Not as fun or as flattering as I expected. 

It's hard to admit the B level is a stretch for me.  I'm challenged and at times de-motivated and hard on myself.  I have a deep ambivalence about this choice or this question of where I belong -- do I enjoy winning and not playing at my highest possible level?  Or do I move up to greater challenges, where I lose more games than I win? 

Of course, these questions relate to issues I struggle with in my development as a business leader.  Should I stay a big fish in small pond or move up to more critical requirements and assessments?  In leadership, as in tennis, it's tempting to stay at a level that does not challenge me.  It's much harder to lose and force myself to work on taking my game up to a new level.  My game only improves by playing tougher players.  But my ego gets bruised.

How often do I stay at a safe and comfortable level of development?   Doesn't playing it safe bruise my ego too?  Can I accept mistakes as a learning process? Can I stay motivated even if I am not the best? 

For now, I'm in the game at the B level, really appreciating a win for its rarity, and learning to count my "losses" as wins by learning everything I can about my improving my tennis game. . . and the practice of humility.

Frank

Comments

[Dan McCarthy]

Frank –

I love “the tennis game” analogy for leadership development. I can relate, and I bet a lot of others could too.

It’s a tradeoff - it’s more satisfying and fun to be on the top of your game at the C level. However, you’re probably not developing much. To get to the next level, we need to swallow our pride and step it up, work twice as hard, and - there’s a risk of failure – not everyone has what it takes to be a B. I guess that’s OK – organizations need strong players at every level.