The Captaincy

Is it a title – or the courage to inspire change? Mark Francis explores leadership lessons inspired by his work with elite athletes and high performers in business. At the core is Sporting Intelligence (SpQ) which captures his four essential traits of great leaders: Positive Intention, Self-Command, Thin-Slicing, and Tribal Fire. Together, they build confidence, sharpen decision-making, and unite people behind a shared purpose. Through powerful leadership stories from athletes, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, Francis shows how leadership is not a role but an ethos – an intention to act with vision, empathy, and resilience. The Captaincy is a call to embrace these lessons, step forward with courage, and carry the spirit of captaincy into every arena of life. Open these pages and discover how you, too, can step into your own captaincy – and lead with impact, on and off the field.