Delivering The “Best Games Ever”: From 53 Medals to A Legacy Of Inspiration

Challenge

Commonwealth Games Scotland is the lead body for Commonwealth sport in Scotland with its membership comprising of Scottish governing bodies that manage 28 recognised sports. It aims to inspire success in the realm of sports by preparing and leading Scotland’s athletic performance at the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games. 

Michael Cavanagh was a natural leader in the sports industry but he did not have the confidence to take on more responsibility, despite persistent support from his colleagues. That all changed when he enrolled in the Leadership in Management course and realised his potential during 2004.  

He went on to become the Chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland shortly after and had a vision to deliver the best performance for Team Scotland at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.  

Solution

Michael envisioned a team that would not only excel in the sporting arena but also live by a deeper, more meaningful purpose.  

He knew that the success of Team Scotland at Glasgow 2014 would depend on the leadership of his staff. Fuelling this dream was Michael’s belief in the transformative power of his own journey. He made the move to invest in his staff by enrolling them in a range of Bespoke Programmes.   

Bespoke Programmes, such as the Unrelenting Pursuit of Excellence Course, are designed to work closely with all levels of an organisation to identify pain points for achieving strategic and cultural alignment.   They deliver lifelong transformation with a focus on high performance in complex and challenging environments.   

I credit the Leadership in Management course for putting myself forward for the election for a position which has opened so many doors for me. It not only equipped me with the confidence to step up but also acted as the key that unlocked numerous opportunities for my organisation. –Michael Cavanagh, Chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland

Results

These courses would reinforce their good characteristics and teach them the skills they needed to be effective leaders. The investment paid off after Team Scotland smashed its record for medals with 53 in total (19 Gold, 15 Silver and 19 Bronze). 

Michael credits the programmes for giving his team the confidence needed to set a new standard for athlete-centred games. Team Scotland’s performance at Glasgow 2014 was so successful that it is still referred to as a benchmark by Commonwealth Games Scotland for future games.