Hall of Fame head coach Bill Parcells famously said and I’m paraphrasing, “They have another one of them scoreboards up there, so I think we ought to win today.”
So the question begs, whether you are in athletics, business, sales, or any competitive environment, how exactly do you go about winning? Is there a formula for success? Are there ways to gain a competitive advantage against your rivals?
Sports psychologist, performance coach, and author of the book Fearless Golf: Conquering the Mental Game, Dr. Gio Valiante thinks there is.
During his recent appearance of The Mel Faber Show, he outlined five ways that individuals and teams win. You can watch the entire interview below, where he discusses this winning formula. It is an excellent interview and worth your time.
5 Ways To Win When You Are In A Competitive Environment
1. Talent
This is when you hear announcers say, “My guy is just better than your guy.” Certain individuals or teams just have more natural ability than others. The are just bigger, stronger, faster, and more gifted.
But what happens when talent is comparable? Talent alone is not enough in those instances. You will need to add the next quality.
2. Work Ethic
Hard work does several things. First, it compensates when there is a disparity in talent. It can make up the difference. Jon Gordon has said, “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”
If the talent is equal, hard work will give you a competitive advantage and help you win.
But what happens if talent and hard work are comparable? You will need to add the next attribute.
3. Differentiation
You simply see the world differently. Dr. Valiante pointed out Steve Spurrier saw the game of football as a game of space. Nick Saban sees the game of football as a game of talent. Urban Meyer saw the game of football as a game of speed. They were all championship coaches but saw the game differently.
Jeff Bezos is quoted on page 92 in Behnam Tabrizi’s new book Going On Offense: A Leader’s Playbook for Perpetual Innovation, “The mercenaries are trying to flip their stock. The missionaries love their product or service, love their customers, and are trying to build something great. The great paradox here is that it’s usually the missionaries who make more money.”
Some people see the world as a mercenary trying to make a buck, others see it through the lens of a missionary trying to make a difference. The missionaries have the advantage because of how they see the world.
But let’s say points 1 – 3 are fairly similar, then you will need to add the fourth differentiator:
4. Discipline
This is a religious commitment to a process. Being radical about your system does two things – it compounds daily success while simultaneously reduces error.
Discipline and a commitment to a radical routine also protects you from variances. The variables around you (health issues, staff transitions, market shifts, etc…) are more easily absorbed and navigated by having healthy systems in your life and leadership.
But if you are in a competitive environment and no advantage has still been gained, there is a final thing you can do to increase your chances of winning.
5. Hire The Right People
If you hire the right people, they will compensate for any gaps in talent, work ethic, differentiation, and discipline. And if things are equal, acquiring the right talent will give you a significant competitive advantage and likely victory.
Are you currently not experiencing the success you desire as a person or organization? Implement these five items and watch your fortunes change.
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