The curling rink is a world of precision and patience. You stand at the hack with the stone in your hand, knowing that one small adjustment in aim, speed, or rotation can change the outcome entirely. The ice in front of you isn’t static — it changes from end to end, stone to stone, and shot to shot. What worked a few minutes ago might not work now.
In leadership and business, we face the same challenge. We can have the clearest plan in the world, but the conditions shift, competitors make unexpected moves, and new opportunities or risks appear in our path. Just like in curling, it’s not always the strongest throw that wins — it’s the smartest one.
A curling shot starts long before the stone leaves your hand. You read the ice, consider the angles, and coordinate with your team. You visualize where you want the stone to end up, then choose the path to get it there. In business, that’s strategy: having a clear vision of your goal and aligning your resources and people to reach it. But once you release the stone, you can’t take it back. The execution has to match the intention.
What makes curling fascinating is that your team is still working on the shot long after it’s left your hand. The sweepers are adjusting speed and direction in real time, making tiny corrections to keep the stone on target. That’s what great teams do in business too — they adapt on the fly, read new data, and work to protect and guide the initiative toward success.
In my keynotes and leadership programs, I often talk about the dual skills leaders need: the decisiveness to act and the flexibility to adapt. Too much planning without execution and the opportunity passes; too much execution without adaptation and you miss the mark entirely. Curling teaches that the real magic lies in the blend — a strong launch combined with constant adjustment.
Success in curling (and in leadership) doesn’t always mean hitting the perfect shot the first time. It’s about setting the right course, building a team that can read the ice together, and making small but significant adjustments along the way. The most successful leaders are those who know when to throw with power, when to finesse, and when to change direction entirely.
The game isn’t won by the loudest voice (though curlers do love to yell!) or the fastest start. It’s won by the team that stays focused, stays adaptable, and stays in communication from the moment they take their position on the ice to the final stone.