Marc Marquez is a MotoGP legend. The 27-year-old Spaniard currently holds eight Motorcycle World championships, six of those in the premier class of MotoGP.
In 2019, I was at Phillip Island for the Australian round of the championship. No surprise Marquez snatched the lead in a daring high-speed move on the last lap to win the race.
So, what does this have to do with leadership and business I hear you say!!
Well, a lot. Honda (Marquez’s team) is one of the biggest manufacturers of motorcycles in the world. They also hold the record for the most Grand Prix victories.
A MotoGP race team has the same structures, demands and responsibilities that any large organisation has. They manage multimillion dollar budgets, have a team of specialist technicians, strategists and managers. They are at the forefront of research and development and constantly monitor their competitors. For ten months of the year a logistics team manage the movement of bikes and technical equipment to arrive within a minute accurate schedule in 20 different cities around the world.
And still, you say so what!! Well on Sunday night after Marquez’s dramatic win, I was sitting in an Italian restaurant on Phillip Island with colleagues, when the champion arrived with his team of 30 plus. Surprised to see an eight-time world champion in the local pizza restaurant, I decided to observe the dynamics amongst the excited and enthusiastic group as they celebrated their win.
Unlike most organisations, every team member was included and acknowledged. There were no egos and no hierarchy. No one was excluded. It was an outstanding example of a cohesive and successful team sharing the spoils and accolades of the win.
Inclusion and acknowledgement is something all organisations can embrace.
