Three Small Changes Used in Pro Sports to Make a Big Difference
The difference between a pop fly and a home run swing is .017 of an inch; it is barely measurable. Minute adjustments can have a drastic impact. It’s the difference between who makes it to the Big Leagues and who doesn’t, who has a huge career versus who has a brief stint known as a cup of coffee in the Majors.
We can think it’s too daunting of a task to change and grow. Kansas City Royals Manager, Mike Matheny, taught me that self-improvement is much easier than we think if we understand the importance of having a personal edge. Small changes over a long period of time can develop us into who we want to be. It’s all about finding your edge and getting a little better every day…like .017 of an inch better. So, check out these three ways we coach athletes to grow their personal edge.
1. Determine Your Values
What are you willing to fight for? Maybe it’s your family. Maybe it’s justice. Maybe it’s achieving your goals. How ever you answer this question, these are your values, and these will contribute to your personal edge. I learned long ago that one of my values is kindness - which is why we do our best to eliminate bullying in the locker room. My son and I were driving in Colorado, and he mentioned some bullying that was going on at his school. My ears perked up, my heart started racing, and I launched into several examples of why I don’t have space for bullying in my life. It was in this moment of passion that I came to fully understand how much I value kindness and stand against bullying. It is a rewarding exercise to pause and ask yourself, “What am I willing to fight for? What do I value?”
2. Learn How to Say No to the Noise
If it is true that our world is full of distractions: we can go from social media to browsing the internet to watching Netflix – it allows us to check out of the world and into our phones. When it comes to developing your personal edge, it’s important to reduce the distractions around you.
I’ll never forget when a Leadership Training Camp board member told me over eight years ago that I should try not turning on the TV in my hotel room when I travel. Instead of getting caught up in a late-night movie or newscast, I simply never pick up the remote. After giving it a try, I absolutely loved it. It kept my mind clear, gave me time to prepare for the next day, and even helped me sleep better. It was a small thing, yet saying no to the noise left me room to grow my personal edge.
3. Be All-In for a Few People and a Few Things
Let’s face it: we can’t do everything well. There aren’t enough hours in the day or days in the week to accomplish everything we want or spend time with every person we come across. It’s important to prioritize a few people and a few things if we want to grow our personal edge. When we dial into less, we are able to give those people and things our all, and really make a difference. If we try to do everything, we’ll most likely find ourselves stuck being average in lots of things instead of outstanding in a few that really matter.
In the words of Mike Matheny, “small changes over a long period of time can develop us into who we want to be.” With that in mind, what small change do you want to make today?
