On the eve of the Le Tour peloton rolling into London, I thought it would be quite nice to post about an article I read in the +Financial Times Weekend supplement by Sir Dave Brailsford.
For those of you that don't know, Brailsford is widely recognised as the man who revolutionised British cycling, first as Performance Director of the Olympic track team and more recently as general manager of Team Sky, culminating with Sir Bradley Wiggins's landmark first British win in 2012.
"Picking the right people"
In his comment piece, Brailsford talks about the very unique set-up of a professional cycling team, the "specific role" of each 'équipier' and the need "to perform to the best of their abilities" in helping the team leader win a Tour.
The first question that needs answering is who you'll pick as your number one. The second is then selecting the eight individuals, all with different skills, that can bring you to the promised land of cycling nirvana.
Brailsford talks of the importance to "gel as a group". As he goes on to say, "The key to their [business people] success is picking the right people for important positions and encouraging them to work together as a team". Obvious parallels with the world of business.
Brailsford's "winning alchemy"
1) "Goal harmony" - everyone being aligned with the team's objectives; you win and lose together.
2) "Open-mindedness" - having the presence of mind to keep options open, particularly where innovation is concerned.
3) "Pursuit of excellence" - what everyone should aspire to, whether you're on the frontline or in a supporting role.
Meeting targets, according to Brailsford, is all about "selecting the best team available" and when making any decision, you must always ask yourself, "Will it increase our chance of winning?"
It sure has for Brailsford and his teams.
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