Shockproof: How to Hardwire Your Business for Lasting Success

Chapter 6. Connections and Calibrations

The America's Cup is a race of management, money, technology, teamwork, and last and incidentally, sailing.

—Bill Koch, 1992 America's Cup winner

Yacht racing teams that win races like the America's Cup don't win simply because their boats have the most advanced design—although the design process is a highly scientific pursuit that optimizes structure, weight, and balance. And the team that wins doesn't always have the most qualified crew, though you won't find amateurs on board. The team that wins does so because they develop and expertly execute the strategy and tactics that are right for their particular yacht and crew. Since the weather during a race can't be predicted, especially over longer races, each team's strategy involves careful planning and anticipation of the potential conditions they may face and, importantly, how they plan to respond. Adaptability and responsiveness and how well the crew works together to make and execute decisions can make all the difference between winning and losing. It's an exercise in achieving and maintaining alignment.

Shockproof Companies Maintain the Ready Position

In yacht racing it's the captain who assesses conditions, sets direction, and prepares the crew to navigate choppy waters. In business, leaders are responsible for creating and maintaining alignment. Getting it right requires carefully connecting strategy, organization, and talent, and then continually calibrating those connections in response ...