Episode 2: Leadership Lessons From the Ice to the Office

Carlee Campbell

Hello!! Welcome everyone to Episode 2 of The Performance Playbook. Today we're going to explore building leadership foundations through sport. I'm here with my co-host, the wonderful Taylor Carter.

Taylor Carter

Okay, I gotta ask—did sports shape who you are as a leader? 'Cause for me, it was such a game changer. Literally and metaphorically.

Carlee Campbell

Absolutely they did. Sports teach those foundational skills—resilience, teamwork, and communication—that are, honestly, non-negotiable for effective leadership.

Taylor Carter

Oh, 100%. Like during my soccer days, we had this game where everything that could go wrong went wrong. Injuries, bad plays, even the weather sucked. But, you know, we dug deep, and it just—it sticks with you, that grit.

Carlee Campbell

Right. And that grit becomes a cornerstone of how we handle setbacks in leadership. I’ve always said, you can’t coach success without coaching failure first. It’s about building resilience—not just for yourself but for the team too.

Taylor Carter

Okay, that’s so true. So, when you were coaching Team Ontario and you guys took those back-to-back golds at nationals —

Carlee Campbell

—Oh yeah—

Taylor Carter

—was that like this masterclass in teamwork and communication?

Carlee Campbell

In a way, yes. Coaching at that level is all about clarity and adaptability. We had to ensure every player understood their role and how it fit into the bigger strategy. And here’s the thing—it translates directly to leading in business. Whether it’s a hockey team or a sales team, you need the same deliberate alignment.

Taylor Carter

Deliberate alignment. Love that. It’s like this invisible glue holding everything together.

Carlee Campbell

Exactly. And that “glue” is often tested during adversity. Like, adjusting game plans mid-play or pivoting in a meeting when the data changes. You have to make decisions under pressure—and trust your team to execute.

Taylor Carter

Okay, wait—hold up. I’m obsessed with this idea of trust. That actually gets me thinking about Lorrissa Horton, the CEO of Sumer Sports. I read an article in Forbes about her where she talks about coaching a varsity high school basketball team in her 20s and realizing that sometimes, the best you can do as a leader is trust your players to step up. That’s such a powerful parallel to business leadership too!

Carlee Campbell

Exactly. And sports make that trust so tangible. Every pass, every play—it’s all about knowing someone’s got your back. One of my favourite coaching takeaways is how sports force you to communicate clearly under pressure. Quick stat—in the NHL, the puck changes possession 80 to 100 times per game. In addition to that, offensive rushes, neutral zone turnovers, and defensive breakouts contribute to additional directional shifts, happening every 15 to 30 seconds of play. Just think of the amount of communication that one 60-minute game requires.

Taylor Carter

Totally. And communication might be the MVP skill here. I mean, in sports, you can’t win without it. And when I think about translating that into the workplace, it’s so obvious how it plays out—clear roles, open feedback, no egos.

Carlee Campbell

So true. It’s also about maintaining composure. Whether you’re leading a halftime huddle or presenting to stakeholders, communicating with clarity under pressure is a skill honed through sports. And it prepares you for those make-or-break moments in leadership.

Taylor Carter

Like managing setbacks. Sports definitely trained me for those messy, “we’re gonna need a miracle” situations. But okay, we gotta talk about this—game planning. That strategic side, you know? How do you even start connecting the dots between a hockey playbook and, say, corporate quarterly goals?

Taylor Carter

How do you even start using all that data and analysis to guide those big strategic decisions? Is it more of a support tool, or does it totally take the wheel?

Carlee Campbell

Data is crucial, but it’s not the only piece. It’s more like the foundation of a decision, but the strategy around it—that creative problem-solving—is what makes it work. Think of it like sports; you can analyze your opponent’s stats all you want, but the game still relies on your ability to adapt on the fly.

Taylor Carter

Oh, okay, so adaptability is the thing. That makes sense. I mean, I remember my coach breaking out these super detailed player stats once, and I was like, “What do I even do with this?” But then she showed us this game plan and it just clicked. It wasn’t just about numbers; it was about how we used them.

Carlee Campbell

Exactly. It’s about connecting the dots. At Salesforce, for example, we use quantitative tools to predict trends or pinpoint gaps. But then we step into that strategic, creative space to figure out how to react. It’s part science, part art. Like the “heart, tree, star” method—it’s incredibly data-driven but still deeply personal to the individual. That method is something that I've used to align individual goals with team objectives. This framework outlines three key areas of personal and professional fulfillment: Heart represents the activities that bring joy and engagement, making time fly; Tree highlights areas for growth and skill development; and Star reflects preferred methods of recognition and reward for accomplishments. It’s a simple yet powerful way to know what drives people—what they love to do, how they want to grow, and how they prefer to be rewarded. This really helps me see the bigger picture, and what is beyond the data.

Taylor Carter

That method is genius, by the way. It’s like telling people, “Hey, I see you. I know what drives you, and here’s how we can work together.” How do you even balance that, though—being so data-focused but also people-first?

Carlee Campbell

It’s a balancing act. Too much focus on numbers, and you lose the human element. But ignore the data, and you’re just guessing. Think of when Inter Miami signed Messi in the MLS - his contract was something like $150 million over 2 and a half years. There is a massive amount of money in a short amount of time, and he is no doubt one of the best soccer players in the history of the sport. That being said, the organization doesn't only think of his performance and stats as it relates to the total dollar amount, but they have to weigh the overall impact the player will have on the organization - ownership structure, TV contracts, apparel sales.....its about shaping the future of the franchise. It’s the same in business; you’re always weighing quantitative performance metrics against qualitative potential.

Taylor Carter

Wait, so you're saying it’s not just “here’s what you’ve done” but also “here’s where you could go”? That’s massive.

Carlee Campbell

Exactly. In both sports and business, the best leaders see beyond the data. They combine it with vision to craft strategies that resonate with people. That’s how you build trust—and results.

Taylor Carter

Okay, wait, let’s circle back to this idea of collaboration. 'Cause in those high-stakes moments—pressure’s on, everyone’s stressed—how do you keep teams from falling apart?

Carlee Campbell

That’s where trust and communication kick in. Think about a hockey team—you’ve got split seconds to interpret a play and react. Everyone has to rely on the others to execute their roles without hesitation. It’s the same in a quarterly sales meeting when you’ve got new data coming in mid-presentation and you’re pivoting strategies on the fly.

Taylor Carter

So it’s about constant adjustment. That’s wild. And also super stressful! I’d probably need like a snack break or something if I were in one of those crunch-time moments.

Carlee Campbell

I think we all would! But that’s why preparation and alignment are so important. The more your team trusts the process—and each other—the smoother those high-pressure adjustments become.

Taylor Carter

Thinking about collaboration and leadership, coaching and mentorship really stand out as a fundamental pieces of the puzzle. It’s not just about teaching skills—it’s about being that source of belief when someone doesn’t quite see their own potential yet. And that synergy between guiding and learning really amplifies both people’s growth. What’s your take on that?

Carlee Campbell

Definitely. Coaching is such a powerful tool. It’s not just about giving instructions; it’s about unlocking potential. Think of the personalities, the backgrounds, and the different amount of skill on 1 single team. As a coach, you have to find a different way for every person to unlock that potential - that's the challenge I love.

Taylor Carter

Oh, I love that. It’s like, you’re the person who believes in them when maybe they don’t yet. That kind of mentorship? It's everything.

Carlee Campbell

And it’s a two-way street. I think a great coach learns as much from their players as they teach. That adaptability becomes a cornerstone of leadership—whether it’s on the ice or in the boardroom. You have to read people, adjust your approach, and keep evolving.

Taylor Carter

Totally. Referring back to Lorrissa Horton, I love her thoughts about emotional connection.

Carlee Campbell

Me too! It’s so critical. Great leaders balance connection with analytics. Think of the Olympics—those athletes thrived on both strategy and the emotional support of their teams. It's no different in business. Numbers matter, but so does the human element behind them.

Taylor Carter

Speaking of balancing stuff, what about when athletes get injured? Like, having everything stop in its tracks and then clawing your way back through sheer grit? That’s leadership. Self-leadership, actually. Don't you think?

Carlee Campbell

Absolutely. Athlete resilience is remarkable. What I love the most about those situations is how they learn to reframe setbacks into opportunities for growth. That willingness to learn and pivot is key—not just for individuals but for teams as well.

Taylor Carter

And honestly, the whole idea of perseverance makes me think, it’s not about not falling—it’s about always getting back up. Wow, that sounds cheesy, but it’s true.

Carlee Campbell

It’s not cheesy at all—it’s fundamental. Successful leaders embrace the messiness of setbacks and use those moments to improve. Whether it’s recovering from an injury or navigating a failed project, the process of rebuilding teaches you more than success ever could.

Taylor Carter

Okay, but I need to ask: how do you balance pushing people to be better while also supporting them through, like, the really hard stuff? That part feels impossible sometimes.

Carlee Campbell

It’s about timing. You push when it's constructive and support when it’s needed. One of my coaching tools is the “sandwich approach”—starting with a positive, addressing the challenge, and then offering a path forward. It keeps the momentum going without breaking someone down.

Taylor Carter

Ooh, I’m stealing that. Positive, challenge, forward. Sounds like a game plan for life, honestly.

Carlee Campbell

It really is. And leadership, at its core, is about guiding people toward their best selves. You know, whether that’s a player, a coworker, or even yourself.

Taylor Carter

Ah, and that’s the full circle. From the ice to the office, right? Perfect way to wrap this up! And with that, we'll leave you all to think about how you can be a coach, a leader, or just the person who lifts others up this week.

Carlee Campbell

On that note, we’ll see you next time. Thanks for listening!