bcg blog

Win The Edges

Chuck Noll, long-time NFL coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers, was quoted as saying “Before you can win a game, you have to not lose it.” Few of those things required to ‘not lose it’ require significant talent. 

I think understanding this is the first step on the path to excellence.

Far too often we become affixed by the allure of the most public, or popular, aspects of our job. 
That’s not where you don’t lose …

You don’t lose by being faithful in the details of the foundational aspects of your job. As a coach, the winning play at the end of a game is on Sportscenter.  It’s celebrated and lifted up as the difference in the game. But, that’s not where you don’t lose.

You don’t lose based on your habits and behaviors in practice leading up to the game. You don’t lose based on your mental preparation and your willingness to buy into your teammates. You don’t lose based on your discipline to apply what you did in practice to the game. 

What Noll is talking about is considered ‘The Edges’ by most people. 
To the people striving for excellence, it’s the core.

The core has to be priority number 1 and it needs to be clear to your team that this is the case.

Why Should We Care?
The pursuit of excellence isn’t a crowded path, but it’s a narrow one. It takes what it takes. There are no passes, no excused absences, and no good-enoughs. 

Everyone on this path takes care of the core. That is no longer the separator. That’s the ticket for admission at the highest level. The leaders of these teams understand Noll’s warning and lead accordingly.

So, the question becomes, how do we separate ourselves? 
How do we continue the pursuit of excellence?

This is where the true edges begin. 
They don’t just become A factor. They become THE factor.  
The thing that distinguishes excellence among teams is their ability, and willingness, to win the edges. 

REAL TALK - Action Steps
They probably aren’t what you think.
They’re simple.
They require little, to no, talent.

• Embrace Failure 
  
  • A huge aspect of our life is based on our story around failure. No doubt this is one of the edges that the elite performers have mastered. As Kobe said, “Failure doesn’t exist. It’s a figment of your imagination.” As soon as we get our head wrapped around that, we will be on our way to excellence.
    

• Remain Neutral
  
  • Positive is ideal, but not realistic. A more productive mindset for consistent excellence is one of being neutral, balanced. Neutral people remain in control of the stories they tell themselves. They realize nothing is truly good or bad, but that our response to it will determine that.
    

• Turn Out
  
  • When things are tough, those aspiring to excellence turn out rather than in. Instead of isolating themselves and ‘fixing’ their problems, they understand they are part of a bigger group and lean on their teammates for help and support. This mindset drives vulnerability and trust, making an obstacle into a fortifying event.
    

Not losing has to be first. We need that foundation. Don’t try to skip it and don’t forget about it. The things necessary to not lose are critical to revisit consistently. ‘The Edges’ can be thought of as more of a how than a what. As we continue to develop, ‘The Edges’ will take shape and become the difference.

For more information on building excellence in your teams, visit us at www.bluecollargrit.com. 
We would love to know how we could help!

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