Management lessons from bicycling
It is not uncommon to trace business deals while teeing off a golf ball or analyse sales strategy while jogging or cycling. While sports can be a great learning ground for boardroom games, cycling is the “new golf” in global corporate lingo. The United Nations has advocated cycling as a climate-smart transport means aligning with Sustainable Development Goals. The World Health Organization (WHO) has backed cycling for accessibility, affordability, and social equitability and implored member nations to adopt it as a sustainable transport mode. But for an avid cyclist, bicycling can contribute much more to developing managerial or entrepreneurial skills. It is time to dedicate and commemorate World Bicycle Day for a sustainable and green future
"Suppose your club or any brand in your knowledge promotes any relevant social issue you strongly believe in, then you can join and communicate your ethos and values by participating and endorsing such causes. It acts as a resourceful asset for personal profiling and brand building"
Devesh Purohit
Bicycling has found a new meaning beyond its health, fitness and eco-friendly characteristics as businessmen and corporate executives leverage bicycling traits to their managerial acumen. Let us explore entrepreneurship and management lessons as we take on a passionate ride every day.
NETWORKING
Join a cycling club or community in your locality. You will meet and interact with people from varying backgrounds, socio-economic classes, experiences, age groups, and work environments. With time, you would also get in touch with clubs from other cities and regions or may pick up some other sport. The result would be a developed outlook on consumer behaviour, current trends, cultural roots, and worldview. The agreements, disagreements, personal agendas, internal politics, and other factors would trigger new vistas as you interact with fellow bicyclists. Being in touch with fellow members will only help build a set of audiences that would create trust and credibility and offer a personal touch in creating brand value for your venture.
LEADERSHIP SANS TITLE
By being part of a cycling community, you are not just a member but also a leader without any official status or title. This is because, at times, you would be making your decision, persuading the decisions and opinions of others and changing tactics when the need arises and becoming resourceful; whether combating choppy weather or a smooth ride. At times while navigating your routes, you would also be the decision-maker for specific solutions proving your expertise within the group. On varying occasions, you would be adopting either democratic, transactional, delegative, or coaching traits to reach your destinations. These undoubtedly make a charismatic leader or a suitable brand representative.
COHESIVENESS AND TEAM BUILDING
A cycling group tour is akin to a company’s mission of cohesiveness for all its members despite all its differences. D&I (Diversity and Inclusion) are the fundamental essence of thriving in organisations today in the globalised business market. At times you would need support or an aid to repair your punctured bicycle tyre or find your direction when lost in your tracks or if you miss a step in your goal. You would need group support and unity within your community or your training club. Many cycling groups across the cities have a uniform that exhibits equality via their jerseys, helmets, and accessories. Being a part of a cycling community is a first-hand practical case study on community building and D&I.
SOCIAL ADVOCACY
Brands and organisations actively collaborate with cycling groups or cyclists as a marketing activity to promote their PR agenda. It can be women empowerment, anti-drug campaign, education for girls, organ donation, raising funds for the underprivileged, or any other social issue. Suppose your club or any brand in your knowledge promotes any relevant social issue you strongly believe in, then you can join and communicate your ethos and values by participating and endorsing such causes. It acts as a resourceful asset for personal profiling and brand building.
BLUE OCEAN STRATEGY
As a holistic member of a cycling club, you won’t be participating to be a winner in some marathon but for fun, recreation, gratification, business growth, and socialising. You would then focus your goals on personal and business growth. This would tow you away from the Red Ocean space and create a Blue Ocean platform for your growth. As routes and tracks are a norm in cycle tracks, someday, the six degrees of separation would help tow the perfect line and help achieve your business goals.
PUBLIC RELATIONS
PR is gaining goodwill and strengthening associations for synergies. You learn to represent your brand and business as a thought leader, analyse the synergies with other members, build power corridors for yourself and your brand as a lobby, and leverage the opportunities and associations. By incorporating eco-friendly cycling baits for a healthy lifestyle, corporates and industries could promote employees’ health. Commuting to work could be an avenue for corporate incentives, thus creating internal PR skills. Government authorities can enhance their PR avenues by providing subsidies and encouraging the use of the environment-friendly mode of transport.
About the author
Devesh Purohit, Senior PR and Content Head, Blue Lotus Communications, has been an avid cyclist since 2020 and participated in group cycling activities in the 100KM, 60KM, 50KM, and 40KM categories in his hometown of Valsad, Gujarat. He advocates a Circular Economy and Sustainability, and strongly recommends cycling at a more significant level for charitable goals. He is also a PR and Corporate Communications & Public Policy professional and a brand-building maven.