Sunday Red Digital

Lessons in leadership from Luke Donald

In the moments after Europe clinched the 2023 Ryder Cup against the USA, captain Luke Donald gave an emotionally charged interview as his team began the celebrations.

“I gave them a good culture to succeed. Hopefully I laid out a good plan in how I thought they were going to win and then it was staying out of the way. They had to play well and they did the job, I’m happy they trusted me.”

Donald would have made hundreds of decisions in the days and weeks leading up to the historic event.

Who to select. Where to practice. What to eat. Where to stay. Who to pair. What to say to media.

All of this largely insulated his team and allowed them to do what they do best and it was abundantly clear from the outset this was a galvanized unit of athletes with one goal in mind.

Donald’s philosophy is one we can all learn from.

“Staying out the way” is not often associated with leadership and many leaders find this hard! But with the right foundation, trust and culture in place, it can be a winning recipe in both sports and business.

Photo: Facebook/RyderCupEurope