"My daughter, Ivy, recently joined a swim club. As a former competitive swimmer, it's been a delight to witness. Every time I take her to practice, I feel a wave of nostalgia that reminds me of all the many years I spent in the pool and all the many teammates I collected along the way. It excites me to think that she, too, will have her own experiences and life lessons, just as swimming taught me."
"But something peculiar struck me as I watched her practice: 45 minutes of their one-hour training was spent on the basics. Kick drills. Pull drills. All the essentials about swimming that we don't think very much about, the foundational techniques that make for a good swimmer. When I think about my time as a swimmer, I don't remember that part very much-the boring basics."
A parent observes a child’s swim practice and notices extensive focus on foundational drills that often go unremembered later. The persistent repetition of basic techniques builds capability and future excellence. The same pattern applies to organizations, where obvious leadership fundamentals are frequently overlooked amid complexity. Purpose, mission, or conviction provides a strategic North Star that gives work meaning and fosters engagement. Many organizations still default to external incentives rather than cultivating intrinsic connection and commitment that arise from clear purpose and well-practiced fundamentals.
Read at Fast Company
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