Speaker Q&A: Steve Backley & Roger Black

What can the world of elite sport teach us about business?

We sat down with two of Britain’s greatest Olympians, Steve Backley and Roger Black, ahead of their seminar at Accountex to find out.

Between them, they have broken world records, won Olympic medals across three consecutive Games, and competed on the biggest stages in world athletics. Today, they channel those hard-won lessons into helping organisations unlock the potential of their most valuable asset – their people.

What have been your biggest career highlights?

Steve: No real ‘1 big’ highlight for me unfortunately. That said, a few contenders…

Breaking the world record for the first time in Stockholm 1990. Breaking the Olympic record in 2000 at the Sydney Games. A third successive Olympic medal and finally, a fourth consecutive European title. I’ll go for the first one if pushed – world record Stockholm 1990!

Roger: As I look back over my career I have 2 stand out highlights.

Individually winning the Olympic 400m Silver medal in Atlanta in 1996- as a team member winning World championship Gold medal in 4x400m relay in 1991.

What are the hardest things you’ve ever had to overcome in your sporting careers?

Steve: Undoubtedly that’d be injury (which I won’t bore you with a long list) – that constant push to get/ stay healthy was a big challenge.

Roger: In 1987 I fractured my foot and had to have surgery that kept me out of the sport for 2 years. Overcoming serious injury is the biggest  challenge for all athletes. In 1993 I was diagnosed with Epstein Barr Virus (Glandular fever) – this was probably the hardest thing I had to deal with though.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

Steve: Can I go with two? 1. Back yourself. And 2. Play the long game

Roger: To focus on what I can control and not on the things I couldn’t- to be proactive instead of re active.

Your seminar will highlight the non-negotiable traits of high performance – without giving too much away, what’s one that might surprise the Accountex audience?

Steve: One thing that gets mentioned is how much a team effort individual sport is. Always resonates with teams who indirectly rely upon each other.

Roger: That the greatest asset  we all have at our disposal are the people we work with everyday. This isn’t necessarily a surprise but is often taken for granted.

What do you want visitors to take away from your seminar session?

Steve: Something that a. They will remember and b. will translate into their own performance.

Roger: Different people take different things from our presentations- if we say something that either reinforces a belief or makes somebody challenge what they are doing then we will have been of value.

All we can do is share our experiences of competing at the highest level in the world of sport – if our performance traits translate to the accountancy business and stimulate thought and discussion that inspires our audience to think differently about how they perform in their workplace then, our session will have been worth attending.

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