One thing that surprised me a long time ago was learning about people who take tests such as DISC. In the old days, it was my experience at Tech that there were a disproportionate number of D types in the student body (I didn't know what to call it at the time, but if you were not highly self motivated, you weren't going to make it). I expected to find that to be true in business as well. It wasn't.
When I was sent to "charm school" / leadership training by my boss, I had to learn how to deal with people who were not as driven and self motivated to personal and business success -aka winning. I also learned that the body of knowledge of sporting teams was not that the players were D types - the vast majority were in it for group/team/comrades, not winning. I finally understood someone could get their butts kicked in a game (or have a bad season) and be seen partying together that night, talking about how fun it was, or be smiling in a press conference. I really did care more than they did about the L(s). As someone who hated to lose even a game of cards, it was shocking.
It also caused me to look at coaches and see if they were the W or bust types, or the group types. They have different attitudes and approaches. This is a big part of the change we are going through. Not saying it is right or wrong, it just is what it is.