What We Can Learn About Workplace Leadership From The Tour De France

Editor’s Note: It’s an annual tradition for TLNT to count down the most popular posts of the year. This is No. 6 of 2015. Our regular content will return on Jan. 4, 2016.

I admit that I am a fair weather (OK, indoor) cyclist. Isn’t exercising in air conditioning always better than Texas weather?

As a twice-a-week spin class aficionado, I learned a lot from my uber competitive 60-something racing instructor. And, I also began watching the Tour de France.

If you haven’t watched the race, it has spectacular views and the occasional massive crash.

And although there are only a few winners each day, the teams are the real reason any one racer wins the yellow jersey as they roll into Paris.

Lessons for our workplace from a big bike race

So what can we learn from the Tour?

Ensure every team member has a clear role and has the opportunity to use their strengths. Every program needs climbers, sprinters and all-arounders. A program is not unlike a race course, and you will need the right combination of team members to reach the finish line.