Instructor Resource
Neck, Self-Leadership, 2e
SAGE Publishing, 2020
Case Notes
Chapter 3: Behavior-Focused Strategies: Overcoming Rough Roads, Detours,
and Roadblocks
Roger Bannister
Learning Objectives
1. Employ world-altering strategies such as using reminders and attention focusers, removing
negative cues, and increasing positive cues.
Case Summary
Prior to the 1950s, many people believed it was physically impossible to run a mile in under 4
minutes. In 1952, Roger Bannister—a British middle-distance star—disappointed himself and his
countrymen when he finished fourth place (one spot out of medal contention) at the 1952
Case Analysis
Roger Bannister was terribly disappointed by his fourth place finish in the 1,500 meters at the
1952 Helsinki Summer Olympic Games. Instead of allowing his disappointment to overcome
him and tarnish the remainder of his athletic career, he decided to shift his negative emotion into
the pursuit of a positive new long-term goal: to become the first person to break the elusive 4-
minute barrier in the mile run.
After setting this ambitious goal, Bannister effectively utilized self-goal setting strategies to
outline specific short- and mid-term goals that would serve as benchmarks of progress along his
Instructor Resource
Neck, Self-Leadership, 2e
SAGE Publishing, 2020
Sample Answers to Case Questions
Question 1. Explain how Roger Bannister used goal-setting to become the first person to break
the 4-minute mile barrier.
Sample Answer: After his disappointing finish in the 1,500 meters at the Helsinki Olympics in
1952, Roger Bannister set a long-term goal to break the 4-minute barrier in the mile. From there,
Question 2. Do you think Bannister could have been successful in his attempt if he had not used
self-set goals? Why?
Sample Answer: Not likely. Big achievements are rarely accomplished overnight. They almost
always involve a series of sub-goals (mid- and short-term) set sequentially along the way as
Question 3. How might Bannister have used other self-leadership strategies mentioned in this
chapter such as cueing, self-observation, self-reward, and practice?
Sample Answer: He may have posted news clippings, photographs, or other positive visual cues
(reminders) of his goal in places where he would see them regularly and gain inspiration and
Question 4. What role do you think purpose played in the goal-setting process for Roger
Bannister?
Sample Answer: Up to that point in his life, competitive running was a significant part of Roger
Bannister’s personal identity. He clearly wanted his enormous talent and years of hard work to