Smith+Nephew’s Post

Who says competitors can't be friends.... Witnessed one of the most empathetic and warm moments in competitive sports today. Taylor Fritz and Alexander Zverev played an intense and grueling match in today's Round 4 at Wimbledon. It could have been anyone's match and Fritz prevailed but the most beautiful moments came after the match when both players stood at the nets, talking with each other for what seemed like a really long time (certainly the longest post match encounter I've seen amongst opponents). While the exact words were of course not discernible, the warmth and empathy came across clearly. When asked during the post match interview as to what they were discussing, Fritz let on that he was commiserating with Zverev over his knee issues (from his previous match) and wishing him a speedy recovery. Makes you think, if such competitive players can find common cause right after a hard fought game where only one of them walks home happy, why can't such competitive congeniality prevail in the world. It never has to be a winner take all consequence if we let our finer senses prevail over the more basic stone age ones. It's great to do justice to your rivalry but in the end if more of us can find a way to walk together and embrace each other, the world would be so much better for it. Imagine the possibilities it would unravel for constructive competition, innovation and world peace! #sport #competition #rivalry #Wimbledon

That’s it, the Olympics is over….. So many lessons about teamwork, resilience, dedication and hard work! There are many parallels between sport and business so keep an eye out for our upcoming blog….! #winners #sportingachievement #bringingcolourtoyourbusiness

***You can't be serious! That ball was NOT out.*** 🏆🎾 Today marks the start of the historic Wimbledon tournament, a #tradition dating back to 1877 when the winner took home a 25-guinea trophy. As the only major tennis event still played on grass, Wimbledon stands as a testament to #tradition, #excellence, and #continuousimprovement. In the world of talent development, we can draw inspiration from Wimbledon’s legacy. Just as tennis players continually hone their skills to perform on this unique surface, professionals must #adapt and #refine their #talents to stay #competitive in an ever-evolving landscape. Grass courts require a specific set of #skills, much like specialized #training and development #programs can unlock unique #potential in individuals. Let’s embrace the Wimbledon spirit in our talent development #strategies by fostering #environments where #continuouslearning and #adaptability are not just encouraged but celebrated. 🌱💪

Ever noticed how Aryna Sabalenka’s has been changing her strategy on the court lately? She’s shifted to “going for bigger targets,” while still smashing the ball in every single occasion—her shots flew at an average speed of 74mph at last year’s Wimbledon, surpassing the guys’ average of 71mph! This approach is the perfect metaphor for what we should be aiming to do in tennis club management these days. Let’s be real, many tennis directors and club managers get tempted to jump on every new trend. But the real win comes from picking those big, strategic goals that truly resonate with what our club stands for in the long run. Let’s think again about Sabalenka: it isn’t just just about playing it safe—it's about being smart where and when it counts. Whether we’re looking at boosting member engagement, upgrading our facilities, or rolling out cool new programs, the goal is to channel our efforts into making a real and measurable difference. By targeting these significant, strategic objectives with clarity and purpose, we’re not just upping our game—we’re also elevating the experience for every member and visitor. Let’s go for those big targets!

Every day I am reminded of the importance of teams, of why we rally when we see an exceptional team at their best. The atmosphere in BVB Stadion Dortmund on Wednesday night was electric, it was pulsating. Hint: if you don’t follow football, I’m referring to the UEFA European Championships (Euros) Semi Final featuring England and the Netherlands. As with all sporting competitions, you can witness the transformation and resilience as the players and coaches deftly negotiate the emotions of winning and losing. As I joined follow tennis fans at Wimbledon yesterday and today, I was once again captivated by the support rippling through the crowd, the concentration – the result of countless hours of investment from a team all sharing one common goal. When we foster an environment that promotes teaming, collaboration and mutual respect, we set ourselves up for success. We operate in a culture of trust and mutual desire to achieve the same brilliant outcome. We are all on the same page – the same team. Regardless of who you support (I hope you’ve guessed who I support by now?!) the majesty of seeing individuals in harmony with their teammates is something to behold. I was on the edge of my seat for almost 90 minutes - watching the talent on both teams play to their strengths. I’m not sure there is a lesson here, but more of a call to empower the people in your team; to give them space to learn and grown, to listen to their views and embrace their USP. To trust their gut instinct and desire to get the job done. We weren’t built to be the same.  This is our strength. This is how we win. Sachin Dev Duggal Omkar Nisal Ram Sarvepalli

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Get along to #Jamberoo if you can to have a listen to, and chat with, 'Noddy', Tony Henderson and, of course, the author of 'Noddy - the untold story of Adrian Alston' Philip Micallef.

What does it take to become a champion? It's women's singles finals day at Wimbledon. What an inspiration to hear from Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King. What shines from them? Their great passion for the game. They loved to play whatever tennis they could, singles, doubles, mixed doubles. BJK winning all three championships in 1967 in the UK and US. Their lifetime winnings were less that the current Wimbledon championship purse. To become expert requires great determination and years of practice. Also the support of close friends, family and colleagues to give support and encouragement. This is true for us all whatever our profession. We spend years learning and practicing our craft, often depending on others to keep up our outside responsibilities. We are told, try hard, think positively, imagine your goals ,build your brand. achieve your dreams if you want them enough. publish or perish. Success is everything. It's wrong. Most of this success is pure luck. To be great you need something else. Something that drives that determination, belief and support. It's not just winning. Most of the time we do not win. The thrill of winning is transient and not enough. To be great you need to love what you do and the people you do it with. Find the thing you love and do it the best you can. That is real greatness whatever fortune allows you to achieve. Just listen to Martina and BJK. They are not great because they were winners, they were winners because they were great.

This is a great piece of creative thinking on so many levels: 1) Turning a burning question (How is Damian smelling after all those days in his sweaty kit?) into an opportunity 2) Understanding the “client” - Donovan Goliath demonstrate he knows the link between the South African Rugby Union (SA Rugby) Springboks and Dove enhancing that partnership, turning information into insights and an outcome. 3) Damian jumping on board - and doing so quickly while the topic and Donovan’s idea are still hot PS: I hope Donovan got paid 😉 #digitalmarketing #creativity #worldchampionshipthinking

Talk about shaping expectations! Wimbledon brilliantly turned a sporting event into a brand experience. 🎾➡️🏆 They gave fans a taste of those iconic distinctive assets, no matter where they were in the world. Were you lucky enough to attend one of these events? Let me know in the comments 💬 #ExperientialMarketing #BrandExperience #GlobalMarketing #DistinctiveAssets