mindset.

Credit: Dave Brailsford (1964-)

Summary:

The aggregation of marginal gains concept is underpinned by the search for tiny improvements in each element of a task that you wish to perform better. It is based on the practice of breaking down a process or task into its component elements, and then seeking to improve the performance of each element by 1% or more. When all the enhanced elements are put together (aggregated) the performance of the process or task is significantly improved. The concept invites users to find improvements in often overlooked and unexpected areas.

Real world application:

Brailsford applied the concept with the British cycling team in advance of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Brailsford believed significant improvement could be achieved by focusing on a 1% margin for improvement in everything they did. He set about searching for small improvements everywhere and found countless opportunities. He believed taken together the changes would provide a competitive advantage. Brailsford included processes such as: enhanced focus on hand washing to avoid illness during competition; finding the quietest hotels and bringing their own mattresses and pillows to promote the same sleeping posture and good sleep; precise food preparation procedures, and measures related to equipment maintenance. Brailsford strategy worked, with the British cycling team winning 10 gold medals in the 2008 Olympics, radically surpassing their performance in previous Olympics where they had managed just 1 cycling gold medal in the previous 100 years.