Why corporate culture should adopt the athlete's feedback loop

Kenyon, who now serves as a board advisor for the Williams F1 team, spent three decades managing major restructurings in professional sports. He points to the trackside culture of Formula 1 as a model for the modern workplace. In that environment, drivers and engineers debrief immediately after a session to adjust their strategy for the next race. This cycle ensures that corrections happen in real-time rather than months later, preventing issues from festering.

This culture of directness extends beyond leadership. Kenyon recalls a receptionist at Manchester United who would openly call out players for failing to offer a greeting, a practice he viewed as vital for maintaining team standards. While he emphasizes that frequent feedback must be balanced with support rather than bullying, he suggests that businesses face their own high-pressure sprints. By shifting away from rigid, scheduled evaluations toward a continuous loop of critique and improvement, organizations can better mirror the agility of elite sports teams.