I once heard that legendary college football coach, Tom Osborne, who lead the Nebraska Cornhuskers to three national championships in the 1990s, never told his team to win. Rather, before each game he told his players to do their best…knowing that he and his assistant coaches had done their best in preparing the team for the game.
I believe that winning is a formula comprising 60% preparation, 25% inspiration, and 15% perspiration. Winning is simply the result. Winning is always just the result.
For players, talking about winning without doing adequate preparation is no different than dreaming. And, since winning is about preparation and not talk, real winners know that talk of winning just distracts from preparation. In fact, too much talk of winning leads to hubris and reduces the perceived need to prepare. Humble people, on the other hand, know that preparation speaks for itself and requires no trash-talk. Real power comes from confidence and real confidence comes from preparation.
For leaders and coaches, talking about winning without ensuring adequate preparation is a combination of incompetence, negligence, and arrogance.
So, be a real leader, obsess about preparation and your team will win more.
Herb Mast is Leadership Coach and Employee Engagement Specialist. Learn how he can assist you in implementing the principles and concepts presented here.