subject: Project Risk Management - What You Will Learn About Managing Risk From Sprinter Ben Johnson [print this page] Project Risk Management - What You Will Learn About Managing Risk From Sprinter Ben Johnson
On a searing hot day in Seoul, South Korea, a hundred-metre sprinter Ben Johnson lined up against seven other elite athletes. At stake was the title of Olympic champion. But 10 seconds later Johnson won the race and also the Olympic gold medal, outrunning his arch rival Carl Lewis. Simply 2 days later Johnson was stripped of his medal and banned from competitive sprinting for two years. His crime? To be caught taking an illegal performance boosting substance. It's not possible to describe the shockwaves this sent around sport. The Olympics is the largest sporting event there is and therefore the 100m sprint is the biggest event at the Olympics. Johnson's drug bust was a disaster for the sprinter, for the sport, for the Olympics and for the folks of Canada. Thus why did he do it? What makes an elite athlete risk being exposed as a cheat while the full world is watching? Some say that it is not possible to reach the high level in sport while not using performance boosting substances; that any athlete who desires to be the best in the globe has to decide on between using medication to become competitive or risk turning into an also-ran. Any athlete believing this argument therefore has 2 choices: 1. Take illegal substances, with the risk of being caught, or; 2. Offer up and go home. I don't buy the "all athletes are on medicine" argument. But I will perceive the maths behind the argument that for some athletes getting to the top means that taking medicine, even at the danger of being expelled from the sport they love. But, I think any athlete falling for this line of reasoning fails to understand the nature of calculated risks. Calculated risks: little risks with nice rewards A good calculated risks is one where there's a very little at stake, but an awful ton to achieve if the risk pays off. Samples of calculated risks include asking for a raise, asking out somebody who you think that may be out of your league. There is a probability that the answer will be no but the quantity you stand to realize if the answer is yes makes it worth the risk. A unhealthy calculated risk is that the opposite. There may appear to be a lot to realize, however there is an excessive amount of in danger to make it worthwhile. Most sports individuals fail to look at everything that's at stake so only see the benefits. The risks and consequences of being exposed as a medication cheat In the case of prime athletes the risks of being exposed are simply too high and do not stop at risk of being disqualified. There are other risks and consequences, including: ? The health risks of taking illegal and, to an extent, untried substances; ? The danger of reputational loss, and; ? The chance of economic loss, represented by loss of earnings and sponsorship. The globe is stuffed with former sports stars making a living as motivational speakers. Disgraced drug cheats are sometimes the last in the road for bookings - they realize that once they are exposed their earning power is but the ability put out by one flat battery. This is often precisely what happened to Johnson. He returned to sprinting once serving his two-year ban, however was never the same athlete. He was banned once more, this point always, once failing another drug test in 1993. What you'll learn from Ben Johnson's mistake Taking calculated risks is essential to long-term success however you want to weigh up all the costs and attainable consequences of failure, as you'll never get a chance to place things right if they are going wrong. That's as true for project managers as it's for one hundred-metre sprinters.
