The idea of marginal gains is all about making small incremental improvements in any process that adds up to a significant improvement when they are all added together.
The most famous example of this is the approach of Sir Dave Brailsford who when appointed as performance director of British Cycling was faced with “Years of failure” and a team used to being also-rans in world cycling. Indeed, one pundit described them as “a laughing stock”.
So when he became performance director of he set about breaking down the objective of winning races into its component parts. He believed that if it were possible to make a 1% improvement in many areas, the cumulative gains would end up being hugely significant.
He focussed on the weaknesses and problems in the team and set about improving improve on each of them.
He did a number of different things including:
- Started to use antibacterial hand gel to cut down on infections.
- Redesigned the team bus (the Death Star) to improve comfort and recuperation.
- Using the same mattresses and pillows before/during races so the riders get a good nights sleep
- Sorting out equipment well in advance e.g. buying tyres a year in advance to prevent supply issues
- Using a state-of-the-art mechanics’ trucks that is climate controlled, to make working more comfortable for the mechanics
- Standardising saddle height measurements so bikes are always set up correctly
- Organising wet weather bags for each individual
- Using colour coded water bottles – one for water the other for energy drinks
- Cooling down on a trainer after each event
Each weakness in the team was not a seen as a threat, but as an opportunity to create marginal gains, which began to accumulate, and the amazing results that followed is now well documented.
So this got me thinking… if this ‘Lycra clad ‘approach can have such dramatic results in sport, what could it do to help prepare for an interview or promotion process?
In my experience many candidates do not approach a selection process with the rigour it requires (and shown by Sky in cycle racing), often they ‘just throw their hat in the ring’ especially if there is no filter stage. They are also often accepting of the ‘status quo’ and just accept that what will be will be at the interview or assessment centre with regard to their performance.
However, I believe there are loads of reasons that contribute to poor performance at a selection process. Individually they may not make much of a difference but when added together the effect can be a disappointing fail.
Some of these issues and behaviours include:
- Just rocking up to the interview believing there is nothing more you can do
- Being great operationally but being unable to describe how you have been successful
- Maybe having a ‘chip on shoulder’ and thinking ‘I deserve this more than others’
- Listening and believing the advice of anyone who has already passed a interview (whether they know how they were successful or not)
So, to increase your chance of success at interview or assessment centre do you need to make one huge change or several smaller ones? It is easy to underestimate the value of making small improvements on a daily basis. Too often, we convince ourselves that success requires a huge, quick and dramatic change.
However improving by 1 per cent isn’t particularly notable—sometimes it isn’t even noticeable—but it can be far more meaningful in the long term. The difference a small improvement can make over time is amazing. If you can get 1 per cent better each day for one year, you’ll end up thirty seven times better by the time you’re done. Conversely, if you get 1 percent worse each day for one year, you’ll decline nearly down to zero. What starts as a small win or a minor setback accumulates into something much more.
1% better everyday 1.01365 = 37.78
1% worse everyday 0.99 365 = 0.03
In the beginning, there is basically no difference between making a choice that is 1 percent better or 1 percent worse. As time goes on, these small improvements or declines compound and you suddenly find a very big gap between people who make slightly better decisions on a daily basis and those who don’t. Now I am not saying that you can get 37 times better at your interview technique in one year but I am saying that you can improve dramatically and be the best you can be at your board, whatever your current level of performance
Here are a few Interviewing Marginal Gains that you could implement NOW.
- Practice delivering your answers for 15 minutes every day
- Change your mind-set. However strong you are operationally, you need to be able to evidence certain competencies to pass the interview. Unfair? Maybe. Fact? Definitely.
- Get an interview buddy who you trust to help give you candid feedback on your performance
- Obsess over the detail in your prepared answers and make every word count. 90% right is not good enough.
- Slow down by 10% in your delivery. Video yourself so you can put yourself in the assessors shoes and see the difference it makes to the impact you have
- Change your mattress & go to bed early for 3 weeks before your interview! Be fighting fit for the day!
Clearly there are many other small changes that you could make as an individual. Start to put together your own list. I would love to hear what changes you intend to make.
So, small choices don’t make much of a difference at the time, but add up over the long-term to a significant difference. You need to be one of the few who takes up the challenge and makes the changes. I guarantee very few of your competitors will take the time and effort to do this… more fool them. This needs to be all about you and your success is the only thing that matters.
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