Gold Medal Learning
Yes, New Zealand men's international rugby team are often lauded as the world's most successful across all of sport. Right now though, they're in a dip. Albeit one where they sit No. 2 in the rankings and still with chance of World Cup glory next up. But this weekend England ripped into them. A result which had been coming.
In the build up to that match, I noted some of the training ethos being introduced to underpin them try recapture the dominance until recently enjoyed.
Their one-time second-row now scrum coach, Jason Ryan, described having a big screen beside them when training. Able to instantly replay nuances to address in the moment.
“We call that gold medal learning. If you can fix something on the grass and look at a skill, that’s the gold medal. After training is a silver, the next day is a bronze. Anything after that, you’re not even on the podium. There’s an analogy for you.”
I instantly liked this.
In part, because I lament at how few salesteams conduct such 'gold medal learning'.
Also because it presents a framework. Which when you buy-in, can shape both the 'how' as well as new behaviour embedded extra gains.
The strange fact is, that for all the talk of 'the learning environment' in corporate life, fixing a skill 'on the grass' like this is not really done. It's just left there. Hanging. On the shoulders of those to take it on themselves, at some undefined later stage. Expectation and reality diverge along separate planes.
It can be a real eye opener to see clips of elite sport training ground drills. There's plenty of crossover to how we adopt new ways. Not just refining general sales skills, but particularly with new product selling.
I once attended a Rugby World Cup tie. Having a convivial, excited pint outside the ground before the game. Then one lad announced he was off to the seat already. Because he wanted to see what the pre-match drills were. I went with him straight away. And he was bang on.
Whilst that prep makes a slightly different point, the theme remains. Get gold medal learning in your sales effort.