Building resilience without losing who we are!
As leaders, people generally expect us to be reliable, humane, and… nice. It feels natural, and of course, it’s always easier and more pleasant to be liked. But a leader must also be able to fight for causes, make tough decisions, and defend their opinions. Especially since we know that exchanges and debates generate far more innovative ideas.
Being too nice and avoiding conflict at all costs will inevitably make us ineffective, even harmful to the organization. Yet, being able to stand up for our ideas without imposing them, and making difficult decisions when needed without alienating the rest of the team, can be a real challenge.
That’s where boxing—or any combat sport, in perfect complement to yoga—comes in. It helps us stop being simply “nice” while still staying true to ourselves. Unless you’re Mike Tyson or Ronda Rousey, the goal when stepping into the ring isn’t to knock your opponent out as fast as possible. On the contrary: it’s about learning with—and thanks to—the person standing across from you. The good news is that you’ll leave not only with boxing techniques but also with winning strategies to apply well beyond the ring.
“ It’s not personal, it’s business.” – Don Corleone
In boxing, judo, and nearly every combat sport, the pre-fight ritual of acknowledging the opponent is essential: both fighters start by showing respect. We don’t step into the ring because we dislike our opponent—we step in because we love boxing. This is a crucial lesson for advancing a project. We can completely disagree with someone while still respecting and appreciating them. Clearly separating the ideas from the people defending them—and showing this distinction—makes debates much more constructive.
“It’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward.” – Rocky Balboa
In a boxing match, we have to accept taking hits—that’s the basic rule. But we also learn to protect ourselves and dodge the hardest blows in order to strike back. Similarly, to remain authentic while defending our ideas, we can’t assume our perspective is always the best. Accepting criticism is essential, as is recognizing that we won’t always convince others. Sometimes the smartest move is to pause a debate and resume it later. We will have shown where we stand—and even if things don’t go our way, we’ll still earn the respect of our team for having had the courage to speak up. The key is to maintain our fighting spirit: a battle is won over several rounds.
“The first rule of Fight Club is: you do not talk about Fight Club.” – Tyler Durden
Apart from cage fighting, combat sports are heavily regulated. To avoid “below the belt” blows that get us nowhere, it’s wise to set ground rules for how exchanges should happen. For example, asking team members to start with one or two positive comments before any critique. This encourages more open-mindedness toward each other’s work and helps reduce tensions.
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.” – Sun Tzu
Every Muay Thai fight begins with a ritual dance honoring the teacher. To transform, evolve, and progress, we need to learn more about ourselves—including where we fall short. Only the person in front of us can give us a clear view of our blind spots. If we’re too lenient with ourselves, refusing to see mistakes or accept feedback, we cannot evolve. Allowing colleagues, partners, and clients to give us input—for instance, through 360° feedback—is key to strengthening our resilience and fighting spirit.
On the ring, everyone has their own style. Understanding the opponent’s strategy helps us counter it. But we also have our preferred style—whether aggressive or patient, waiting for the right moment. Identifying our own style and developing new ones allows us to do the same in business.
Currently, I’m working on my defensive style in Muay Thai: protecting myself better while waiting for the right moment to strike. And this perfectly mirrors the business strategy I’m developing right now!