As a teenager, I was a decathlete. I trained for hours, day after day, to excel in ten different disciplines. It was a time of intense physical and mental exertion, but also a period that shaped me for life. Looking back, I recognize more and more astonishing parallels between the demands of the decathlon and the principles of good management. These are lessons that have proven valuable not only on the track but also in my professional life.

Discipline and Consistency Are Key

In the decathlon, there are no shortcuts. You have to perform in every single discipline. This requires discipline in training and incredible consistency in execution. A clean run in the 110m hurdles, a strong throw, a high jump – everything has to be just right. It's similar in management. Projects require continuous effort, not just right before the deadline. Success comes from consistently completing tasks, adhering to processes, and constantly striving for improvement. A manager who only occasionally puts in effort will fail in the long run, just like a decathlete who only trains their favorite disciplines.

Leverage Strengths, Manage Weaknesses

As a decathlete, I knew where my strengths lay and where I needed to improve. I was good at the 110m hurdles and high jump but had to work hard on discus and pole vault. The trick was to play to my strengths as much as possible to score points, while simultaneously improving my weaknesses enough so they didn't cost me the overall result. It's no different in management. A good manager knows their team's strengths and deploys them strategically. At the same time, they identify weaknesses—whether in skill distribution, processes, or team dynamics—and take action to address or compensate for them. It's about creating a well-balanced overall package.

Endurance for the Marathon, Speed for the Sprint

The decathlon isn't a sprint; it's a marathon of sprints and throws. The competition spans two days and demands both short-term explosiveness and long-term endurance. You have to be able to re-motivate yourself repeatedly and get up after setbacks. It's similar in management. Sometimes quick decisions and agile action are needed to respond to short-term challenges. At the same time, you need endurance and foresight to develop and implement long-term strategies. The mix of both is crucial. A company focused only on quick wins loses its long-term vision, while one that acts only slowly and deliberately can fall behind.

Mental Toughness Is Decisive

The physical demands in the decathlon are immense, but mental toughness is often the real differentiator. When your legs are heavy, your head pounds, and frustration sets in, your will determines whether you continue or give up. A poor attempt in the shot put mustn't ruin the high jump. You have to shake off setbacks, stay focused, and believe in yourself. This mental resilience is also essential in management. Project delays, unexpected problems, criticism – all these are tests for your nerves. A successful manager isn't discouraged by them but analyzes the situation, learns from it, and finds solutions.

My time as a decathlete taught me that success isn't by chance; it's the result of hard work, strategic thinking, and unwavering mental strength. These lessons are universal and have repeatedly proven their worth in my professional career as a manager. The decathlon was more than just a sport – it was a life school for leadership and success.

#leadership #management 

#SundayThoughts 

FrankSchwab.de

Encourage & Challenge

The core of my journey, from starting out at Deutsche Bank to my current roles on supervisory and corporate boards, has always revolved around "encourage & challenge." It's a philosophy that I've found to be the true engine of growth, whether for individuals or entire organizations.

I remember it vividly: my apprenticeship, my studies in business informatics at the University of Mannheim. Professor Dr. -Ing. Effelsberg certainly gave me a "hard time" with my first big paper, but that tough love was the very essence of learning. It taught me that real progress comes from being pushed beyond your comfort zone, not from an easy path. This principle carried into my early management days. I was given tough assignments, but when I delivered—projects, new products—promotions followed swiftly. The challenge fueled my drive, and the trust placed in me was the greatest encouragement.

Even now, looking back and looking forward from the boardroom, my belief remains unshaken: "encourage & challenge" is the most effective way to foster growth. It's about creating an environment where people are supported in their ambitions but also pushed to innovate, to take calculated risks, and to continually strive for more. It's how we evolve, both personally and professionally.

#leadership #career #growth 

#SundayThoughts 

FrankSchwab.de

Throughout history, the flicker and warmth of a fireplace served as humanity's original gathering place. As dusk descended, families and communities gravitated towards its comforting glow, drawn by the promise of shared stories, camaraderie, and a brief respite from the day's toil. It was a space for connection, where oral traditions thrived, wisdom was passed down, and the bonds of kinship were strengthened. The crackle of burning wood and the dancing flames were the backdrop for countless evenings of socializing, planning, and simply being together in a shared, intimate space. The fireplace was not just a source of heat; it was the heart of the home, a symbol of community and collective life.

Fast forward to the digital era, and the communal focal point has undergone a curious transformation. The ambient glow of a fire has been replaced by the urgent, digital luminescence of screens. No longer do we huddle for warmth or a good yarn; instead, the magnetic pull now emanates from the ubiquitous charging hub. In cafes, airports, and even our own homes, the scramble for an available outlet is a familiar scene. When our smartphones, tablets, and laptops declare their dwindling energy, we instinctively gravitate towards these charging hubs, a new kind of gathering around a shared necessity. The "charging hub" has become the contemporary hearth, not for storytelling, but for the silent, individual pursuit of reconnection to the digital world. Our conversations are often punctuated by the frantic search for a charging cable, and the shared experience is less about direct interaction and more about the collective, unspoken anxiety of a dying battery. This shift from the communal warmth of the fireplace to the solitary glow of a charging device marks a profound change in how we connect, or perhaps, how we increasingly disconnect in our digital world.

Yet, even in this digitally tethered existence, a new form of connection emerges. Once fully charged, and if we're lucky, the charging hub can foster a fresh sense of community. Instead of retreating into individual digital cocoons, we sometimes find ourselves sharing screens and experiences, often through shared games. Whether it's a quick round of Finto or another collaborative mobile game, the act of playing together brings people back into a shared space, albeit a virtual one. Laughter, strategizing, and friendly competition once again become the glue that binds us, even if the "fire" around which we gather is now the glow of our devices, powered by the very hubs we just clustered around.

#digitaltransformation 

#SundayThoughts 

FrankSchwab.de

That day in Faro, Portugal, back in 2004, remains vivid. My first professional presentation. Standing before an audience at the European Banking Forum, tasked with unraveling the "Future of Retail Banking," I was a potent cocktail of exhilaration and sheer terror. The memory of the final slide clicking into place, followed by polite applause, remains a small but significant victory etched in my mind. It was the opening note of a symphony I couldn't yet imagine.

Now, two decades and over two hundred presentations later, the echo of those early nerves has long since faded, replaced by a quiet confidence born of experience. My journey through more than twenty countries across five continents, sharing insights and ideas, has yielded a harvest richer than I could have possibly foreseen. The stages I've stood upon have become unexpected classrooms, the audiences, diverse and discerning teachers.

Beyond the immediate act of presenting, a remarkable tapestry of connections has been woven. I've had the privilege of forging business friendships with some of the most respected voices in the banking world, individuals whose mastery of their craft continues to inspire me. Encounters with politicians, prominent business figures, and leading academics have broadened my understanding of the world in profound ways, each conversation a unique lesson etched into my perspective.

Perhaps the most surprising and significant outcome of this journey has been the unexpected doors that have swung open. Simply being present, actively engaging in the discourse of these conferences, has led to opportunities I never actively sought. Among these, eight years serving on a risk advisory board in Amsterdam, strategic consultancy roles in Oslo, and even a CEO position in Munich stand out as examples to the power of connection and the credibility built through consistent engagement. These weren't roles I applied for in the traditional sense; they emerged organically from the relationships cultivated and the expertise shared on those very stages.

Looking back, that nervous young professional in Faro could never have envisioned the trajectory that single presentation would set in motion. It wasn't just about conveying information; it was about building bridges, fostering understanding, and ultimately, creating opportunities. The achievements and benefits accumulated over these many years are more than just professional milestones; they are a powerful demonstration of the enduring impact of communication and the unforeseen rewards of sharing your perspective.

#speaker #speaking #frankschwab #Megatrends #banking #innovation 

#SundayThoughts

FrankSchwab.de