Last night, Kay and I had dinner with three people who know more about pressure than almost anyone else I’ve ever met:
- Kane Williamson, New Zealand captain
- Ben Stokes, now England captain
- Eoin Morgan, the man who led England to that World Cup win in 2019
There were about 500 of us in the room as it was sold out completely. The atmosphere was electric, the food was excellent, and the conversation even better. What struck me most was the structure of the evening was that it wasn’t stiff or overly formal – it was relaxed, warm, and incredibly conversational. We weren’t just listening to famous sportsmen; it felt like we were being invited into their dressing room, to hear what leadership under pressure really sounds like.
If you watched that World Cup final at Lords, you’ll remember the chaos of the last over. The real lessons didn’t come just from those final moments though, they came from the years before. And those lessons, surprisingly, apply just as much to us in business as they do in sport.
Here are the four biggest takeaways I walked away with:
Make Space for Honesty
Eoin Morgan shared how he transformed England’s team culture. It wasn’t just about tactics and strategy; it was about giving players room to be honest. They were encouraged to talk openly about where they were, where they wanted to go, and what was getting in the way.
When players stopped protecting themselves and started trusting one another, that’s when the team began to change.
In business, if people in your team don’t feel safe enough to speak honestly, alignment will never happen. Trust begins with creating space for truth.
Pressure Rewards Calm Thinking
Ben Stokes is known for his grit, but what stood out was his composure. In those frantic last moments, he didn’t lose his head or go chasing glory shots. He slowed everything down and thought clearly while the world around him was spinning out of control.
In business, leadership isn’t about reacting the fastest. It’s about keeping your head when everyone else is losing theirs. Calm thinking under pressure is the difference between leading and simply surviving.
Mistakes Don’t Define You
Jason Roy had a rough day. He missed some straightforward throws, the kind that haunt you. But when it mattered most (on the final ball) he delivered. And that single throw helped England lift the trophy.
In work and in life, we all make mistakes. The key is not perfection, it’s staying ready. If you’re still in the game, you still have a chance to make the move that counts.
The Real Win Happened Four Years Earlier
When asked about the pivotal moment of that match, none of them chose something from the final. Instead, they looked back four years. That was when tough calls were made, standards were reset, and the culture truly shifted.
In other words, the World Cup wasn’t won on the day. It was won in the years leading up to it.
In business, your defining moments are rarely about the “big day.” They’re built in the quiet hours, in the planning, in the decisions no one sees. The spotlight only reveals what’s already been created behind the scenes.
My Takeaway
The evening reminded me that winning moments might look dramatic, but they’re built slowly and deliberately. Success isn’t a fluke – it’s a result.
What you build in private, your habits, your culture, your standards, is what will stand up when the pressure hits.
That World Cup final wasn’t just about cricket. It was about leadership, resilience, and preparation. Sitting in that room with 500 others, I couldn’t help but think that it’s just as true for us as leaders in business as it is for players on the field.
