I am on my way home after 6 days working with the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.
So what do I take with me home?
I've fallen in love with Russians!
They are curious, analytical, critical, shy....and when "the ice is broken", they are open, fun and sharing.
Sochi 2014 has professional people on board!
As the organizing committee in Lillehammer, the Sochi organizing committee has few people with international event experience. That does not make them less competent to host the Games. Why? Because they have the best recruitment process leading to a workforce chosen among the best - with the right attitude.
It is the people that makes the Games!
1/20/11
Practice makes perfect!
Olympic Games is a about planning. Actuallly 7 years of planning. At least. It takes thousands of days to plan this mega event.
But Olympic Games is also about training. It is about testing your plans and procedures and training your workforce in order to achieve perfect performing.
As a manager and leader you need to know which decisions to make, what to communicate, who to report incidents to, how to motivate. Because what do you do.....
....when there is a traffic jam and your venue is only half full just prior to start?
....when there is a problem with the ice and the jury decides to delay the competition?
....when your staff is food poisoned?
....when you have loss of power and your whole venue is dark?
Yesterday I experienced how 100 Russian managers did this; cooperating, communicating, solving issues, having fun. Because training on reality with your colleagues is fun, and provides energy and motivation for the continous planning.
Something for all of us to learn - I learned a lot from the 100 professional Russian leaders I met yesterday!
But Olympic Games is also about training. It is about testing your plans and procedures and training your workforce in order to achieve perfect performing.
As a manager and leader you need to know which decisions to make, what to communicate, who to report incidents to, how to motivate. Because what do you do.....
....when there is a traffic jam and your venue is only half full just prior to start?
....when there is a problem with the ice and the jury decides to delay the competition?
....when your staff is food poisoned?
....when you have loss of power and your whole venue is dark?
Yesterday I experienced how 100 Russian managers did this; cooperating, communicating, solving issues, having fun. Because training on reality with your colleagues is fun, and provides energy and motivation for the continous planning.
Something for all of us to learn - I learned a lot from the 100 professional Russian leaders I met yesterday!
1/19/11
Cultures and languages
The Olympic Games is not only about sport.
It is also about bringing people together across boarders creating understanding and thereby increase the likelyhood of peace in the world.
So how does it work when an Australian, a Canadian, an Irish and a Norwegian with different English accents meet 100 Russian English-speaking trying to share knowledge on Olympic operations? I'd say were well!
Why? It is all about attitude and willingness to share and learn.
How? You mix a mutual interest (Olympic Games), a desire to perform (thank you good collegues), good planning (thank you to Yulia and Jacqui in particular), good sense of humor (thank you, Russians!) dash it with music and video ingredients from previous Games (thank you IOC) and pick everyone's brain on knowledge and not at least have many dialogues (thank you to all!).
Off we go to a new adventures day in this international landscape!
It is also about bringing people together across boarders creating understanding and thereby increase the likelyhood of peace in the world.
So how does it work when an Australian, a Canadian, an Irish and a Norwegian with different English accents meet 100 Russian English-speaking trying to share knowledge on Olympic operations? I'd say were well!
Why? It is all about attitude and willingness to share and learn.
How? You mix a mutual interest (Olympic Games), a desire to perform (thank you good collegues), good planning (thank you to Yulia and Jacqui in particular), good sense of humor (thank you, Russians!) dash it with music and video ingredients from previous Games (thank you IOC) and pick everyone's brain on knowledge and not at least have many dialogues (thank you to all!).
Off we go to a new adventures day in this international landscape!
1/17/11
Olympic Games again....and again....and again....
I am back in freezing cold Moscow for another workshop. Christmas is still hanging around here, the church around the corner is even more beautiful with the white snow and the blue sky and the Russians are just as hard working this year as last year.
I am amazed how well they are working to plan these coming winter Games and I am thrilled to learn that the Olympic "animal" is living through it's phases as I have learned it through my last 7 Olympic Games. And yet, it is different - new culture, new people (luckily I meet some Olympic gypsis too:-)), and everything is much earlier!!! The planning here is at a stage at this time in the life cycle of an organizing committee far ahead any other I've experienced. The Russians can take these Games to" the gateway to the future", which is also their slogan.
I hope to be there....!
But first there is tomorrow and the first day of interesting lessons to learn.
See you!
I am amazed how well they are working to plan these coming winter Games and I am thrilled to learn that the Olympic "animal" is living through it's phases as I have learned it through my last 7 Olympic Games. And yet, it is different - new culture, new people (luckily I meet some Olympic gypsis too:-)), and everything is much earlier!!! The planning here is at a stage at this time in the life cycle of an organizing committee far ahead any other I've experienced. The Russians can take these Games to" the gateway to the future", which is also their slogan.
I hope to be there....!
But first there is tomorrow and the first day of interesting lessons to learn.
See you!
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