Shaan Rais is a professional speaker and leadership and organizational development consultant. Omni-Solutions Consultation LLC.
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Four Pennsylvania Plaza, New York, New York, is affectionately known as the world's most famous arena, "where history happens." You don't have to be a New Yorker to know that Madison Square Garden remains one of the greatest venues for historical events.
One such event was the championship fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, the most anticipated heavyweight title fight in history. At the time, Muhammad Ali was a larger-than-life, charismatic boxer, loved and hated by millions. Historians of the time note that Ali's political stance and outspoken nature caused him to be unpopular among a large demographic. By design or default, Joe Frazier was positioned as a symbol of patriotism. After being banned from boxing for three years for his refusal to be drafted into the Vietnam War, Ali was stripped of the championship title. To regain the title, he would have to go through Frazier.
Ali was on the comeback trail, and his signature outspoken personality was on full display, self-assured that he would dominate Frazier in the ring. The world was watching when these two opposing characters stepped into the ring.
Ali lost. Not only did he lose, but he also lost spectacularly. Here, we find the leadership principle that I want to discuss in this article: How to lose like a leader.
Ali's defeat could be a masterclass on the art of losing like a leader. As leaders, we walk a tightrope daily, balancing the needs of stakeholders versus customers, the business versus the workforce. In a perfect world, these forces would perfectly align, but the reality is they don't. At times, leaders fail spectacularly, too.
The best leaders return to the "ring" smarter, wiser and conditioned for their next challenge, much like Ali did. Below are the action steps for losing like a leader.
Understand Why You Lost
If you watch interviews following the fight, you'll notice that Ali knew exactly where he went wrong. He identified the physical and emotional reasons for his defeat. As a leader, having the ability to admit defeat is a job requirement, but great leaders seek insight into why.
As an evidence-based coach, I use DiSC assessments to help leaders get to the root of their behavior and personality traits. The DiSC assessment is a behavior-assessment tool that aims to help people understand their leadership personalities. A DiSC report includes scores in various dimensions, an analysis of your personality and advice on improving performance. After a career loss or setback, you want to focus on two areas of your assessment:
• Values
• Attributes
By carefully analyzing these areas after a setback, you can identify opportunities for growth and development.
Stay True To Your Personal Brand
Ali stayed true to his brand. He was known for his braggadocious comments, and many of his detractors hoped his defeat would "humble" him.
Unfortunately for them, Ali accepted loss with confidence that solidified his brand and made him the face of resilience. His fall made for a phenomenal "comeback story" that's as relevant in 2022 as it was in the 1960s.
Ali maintained his charisma while acknowledging that he had been beaten. He faced the media with his ego undamaged and even joked around with the reporters, deflecting questions that attempted to humble him. When you're accustomed to winning in your career, it's hard to lose.
Control The Narrative
Leaders are loved when they're winning. So much so that they aren't sure how to handle the attention when love is replaced with daggers. Ali controlled the narrative by managing the press like a pro.
Ali used defeat as a setup for a comeback. Defeat didn't break Muhammad Ali. He continued to train and compete for years afterward, ultimately regaining the heavyweight title twice.
This may sound good in theory, but we don't live in a theoretical world. In the real world, losing in your career comes with financial and emotional stress. Here are a few tips for managing both.
1. Take care of yourself physically and emotionally. Your physical and emotional health are inextricably linked. Investing in your well-being will pay off in every area of your life.
2. Focus on your personal brand. Your personal brand is what people say about you when you're not in the room. It's your reputation. Be intentional about managing it, especially if your career failure threatens your credibility.
3. Network. Meeting new people and building relationships are vital to finding opportunities after loss.
Next time you're faced with a setback or a loss, remember the example set by Muhammad Ali and choose to lose like a leader. Gain clarity on why you failed, work on minimizing your blindspots by recognizing improvement areas and make your failure the first chapter of a phenomenal comeback story.
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