Unlocking Peak Performance: "Will It Make the Boat Go Faster?"

As leaders, we're often faced with countless decisions each day, ranging from strategic planning to minute operational details. The question is, how do we ensure that every choice we make is steering our team towards success???

Enter the powerful mindset epitomised by the British rowing team and Olympic gold medalist Ben Hunt-Davis: "Will it make the boat go faster?"?

This simple yet profound question was the guiding principle for the British rowing team as they prepared for the Sydney 2000 Olympics. Every decision, every action, and every strategy were evaluated through this lens. The results? A historic gold medal victory that has since become a textbook example of focused, goal-oriented leadership.?

Here’s 5 ways to apply this mantra of marginal gains to your leadership:?

Clarity of Purpose: Just like the rowing team had a singular goal—winning gold—define your team’s ultimate objective. What is the ‘gold medal’ you’re striving for? This clarity helps in aligning all efforts and resources towards achieving that goal.? ?

Decision-Making Filter: Use this question as a litmus test for every decision. Will this new process, meeting, or strategy contribute directly to your goal? If the answer is no, it might be time to reconsider and refocus your efforts.? ?

Prioritisation: In a world full of distractions, maintaining focus is key. By constantly asking "Will it make the boat go faster?", you can prioritize tasks that have the most significant impact on your objectives, cutting through the noise.? ?

Team Alignment: Communicate this principle with your team. When everyone understands and adopts this mindset, it fosters a culture of high performance and shared purpose. Every member becomes more conscious of their contributions to the overall goal.? ?

Continuous Improvement: The rowing team didn’t just ask this question once; it was a continuous process. Regularly reassess your strategies and actions. Are they still aligned with your ultimate goal? This iterative approach ensures that you remain on the right course.?

Taking the time to pause and consider?what's?working well, and what adjustments and shifts need to be made to ensure your team can accelerate towards the next phase of growth is essential. This is where our NewlandRock one-day 'Think Tank' or strategic sprint sessions can provide a valuable opportunity for teams to assess and re-align on how they want to move forwards as a high-performing team.

These one-day sessions are designed to help teams deepen their communication skills, align ideas and potential opportunities whilst exploring the collective impact they could create by leveraging each other’s ideas

?? Get in touch for more information on how a NewlandRock ‘strategic sprint’ event could elevate your leadership team’s vision.