I am operating at a higher level of effectiveness than I was when I started working with Eric.
Competing for Something, Not Against Someone
tournaments. No matter how well he played, Tiger played better. As a result, Els made changes to his game. He started playing more aggressively, gunning directly for the pin the way Tiger does. The result? Not only did he not beat Tiger in 2000, he had his worst year on the PGA Tour in 2001. He did not win a single tournament.
Why did this happen? Ernie Els stopped focusing on winning tournaments, and started focusing on beating Tiger Woods. He took his eyes off what he wanted and put them on what he was afraid of. And his game deteriorated badly as a result. In 2002 and 2003, Els returned to his previous form, winning two Tour events. He credited this improvement in large part to a return to his own, more patient game of golf.
Performance Principle: When we stop competing for a goal (winning tournaments) and start competing against someone (Tiger), the result is often a decrease in our own effectiveness. When our primary goal becomes beating someone rather than achieving something, we spend all our time watching and focusing on that person. Inevitably, we start to act like them. And that never works, because a copy is never as good as the original.
Questions to Consider:
- Are you focused on the competition for something or the competition against someone?
- How can you reorient yourself and your team to competing for the right goals?
- How can you remind your team what you are really striving to achieve?
- How can you refocus your efforts in ways that play to your strengths?
