The Archer’s Edge: ancient wisdom and modern practice for business leaders by Michael Watkins and Juan Carlos Holgado

Michael Watkins is the author of the acclaimed The First 90 Days, which has become a go-to guide for any business leader wanting to build a strategy ready to face a major transition. For this new book, however, he has joined forces with Olympic gold medallist and elite archery coach Juan Carlos Holgado to show how pressure can undermine even the best-laid plans.

The central theme of the book is particularly relevant to entrepreneurs and SME leaders, who will inevitably have to navigate uncertainty and make critical decisions with limited information. The authors argue that composure under pressure is a capability that can be developed through deliberate practice, and identify six trainable capabilities: developmental agility, purposeful practice, focus, mental toughness, adaptability and team excellence.

The ideas in the book are supported by practical exercises designed to fit into busy working lives, from three-second posture resets and techniques for regaining focus between meetings to a structured 90-day development plan. This makes the book particularly helpful for business owners who need advice they apply day-to-day rather than abstract management theory.

One of the most interesting parallels between archery and leadership in the book is the paradox that trying too hard to achieve a result can actually undermine performance. Tension can throw off an archer’s aim in the same way that excessive pressure can cloud a leader’s judgement. The ability to remain focused and composed, rather than simply pushing harder, is a valuable lesson for anyone running a growing business.

Key takeaways

• Michael Watkins, author of The First 90 Days, co-writes a book that draws on the discipline of archery to explore focus, preparation and performance under pressure for business leaders.
• The central theme – knowing what to do and being able to do it under pressure – is particularly relevant to entrepreneurs and SME leaders who regularly face high-stakes decisions alone.
• The book explores the paradox that the harder you try to control an outcome, the more likely you are to miss – a lesson applicable to leadership, negotiation and strategic decision-making.
• Practical exercises are designed to fit into busy working lives, making the book accessible to leaders who want to apply its lessons without significant time investment.
• The archery metaphor is used consistently throughout to illuminate leadership principles around focus, stance, breath and release – the mechanics of consistent performance.

The Archer’s Edge: Ancient Wisdom and Modern Practice for Business Leaders by Michael Watkins and Juan Carlos Holgado is published by Wiley

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