Don't try
Peter is on the beach with Chuck. Peter is trying to surf for the first time. Chuck is getting him to practise the motion of standing on the board whilst still on dry land. His advice…
“The less you do…the more you do”
The paradox of performance is encompassed in one clip.
[And I mean performance in all walks of life. How many guys or girls have missed out on another date because they tried too hard?!]
In today’s world there are a mix of attitudes when it comes to achieving goals. There is certainly a propensity to seek out smart ways to do things amongst the younger generation. This is a quality of approach to be harnessed and utilised. When combined with a hunger and excitement that manifests in hard work then it’s a deadly, winning concoction.
The first thing to make clear is…
Rarely do amazing things happen without some hard work behind them!
But I am interested in the moment of performance; the second you take swing, deliver a line, or the multiple minutes of a match. When do we need to listen to Chuck and ‘do less’?
Working hard is great until it isn’t
I had a bias for hard work. I was living out my dream and I felt I owed it to myself and others to try my hardest. For the most part this served me very well.
However, if hard work becomes your guiding principle then you miss out in a couple of ways:
There might be an easier (more efficient) way - in terms of plans, schedules, and strategy. We should be constantly assessing if there is another way that works. Do our systems feel good because we are working hard and ticking that self-satisfying box? Or are they good because they are best for us, allowing us to maximise our output?
One such example was our defensive strategy in 2017. For half the season everyone did their job. Everyone worked incredibly hard to make the defensive system work…and that was the problem. We had been making it work, but it was the wrong system. Our extreme hard work actually hid the weakness in our tactics. The shortcoming in our system was concealed by the immense effort of the players. It was hurting us in other areas.
Sometimes, less is more. Wednesday was always the ‘down day’ in our weekly training schedule. It was designed so that we could ‘go big’ on the two days either side (periodisation micro-cycle). Being the best athlete on these days was often about doing less. It didn’t feel like hard work sometimes - relaxing, allowing the body to recovery by sitting in a sauna, maybe taking time away from the analysis room to mentally refresh or, our favourite, having a long brunch in our favourite spot with any dogs, family and partners we could invite.
Are you wearing it as a badge of honour? If I told you my primary intention when I took the field was to be the hardest working player you might not criticise me. Many players speak about ‘not being outworked’. It is undoubtedly a key aspect of a sport like rugby 7s where physical exertion is a major factor. However, if hard work dominates your thinking you might favour it in terms of the best action or the best decision. This is linked to emotional arousal (to be discussed in another post). When you have that ‘grit your teeth’ type of energy, you can lose out on the more fluid, skillful, adaptable self.
To some extent this can be wrapped up in …
‘work smarter, not harder’.
…because this line presupposes you are working hard already! To try and highlight this distinction here’s a rugby example:
I am in a contest at the ruck with an opposing player (basically a 1v1 wrestle over who wins the ball). The other guy is 6ft, 6 inches and 120kg. I am just a nudge over 80kg and 5ft 10 inches on a good day. I can continue trying to fight in this contest, working harder than I ever have before and I might win. But what if I let him win that contest and then outsmart or ‘out-speed’ him in the next contest so that I can win the ball. Playing it smart and in line with my strengths rather than busting a gut on the off chance it pays off.
Let it happen
When the time comes to deliver your chosen skill, in your chosen arena, it is time to let it come. Let the light you have worked so hard to build shine in all its glory!
Some superstars who let it happen…
Roger Federer
In 2006 the New York Times talked about ‘Roger Federer as religious experience’. There are few sports people who have the accolades Federer has accumulated whilst exuding such grace and ease of execution. He recently said “effortless is a myth” pointing out that he worked incredibly hard in training. This further makes my point that because he completed the dedication in training it meant that in the moment, during a match, he freed himself to let it happen. His fluidity of movement and timing make it look like he is playing under the influence of an otherworldly power. Part of this spectacle is what appears to be effortlessness. Perhaps allowing a higher power to supersede our own human force is the secret.
Finn Russell
An example from rugby is significant because it’s a sport that features, and prides itself on, the work ethic and a combative nature. Finn Russell plays with a ‘don’t try’ aura which aides his ability to access a wide range of outside-the-box skills. He is a professional that studies the game and practises his skills diligently. But Finn Russell doesn’t need to be the hardest worker during an 80 minute match. That helps him be his best self.
Aretha Franklin
It’s not just sports stars. Some of the best performers emulate this sense of ease on their chosen stage. The ‘Queen of Soul’ managed to convey such power and force by allowing it to move through her rather than forcing it out. Musicians and singers, perhaps more than anyone, allow the magic to happen when they perform rather than working to make it happen.
The list of names above are people who honed their craft and made it to the top of their arenas. They are people who will have applied themselves immensely to their chosen skills. But they have also mastered the art of letting the skills unfold in the moments that matter.
Sometimes you just have to get your head down and graft, whether you’re building a business, pushing through a mountain of paperwork, or chasing around a rugby field. And true hard work is to be admired and rewarded. But keep an eye out for when the hard work stops serving you in the way you want.
When does hard work need to give way to feel, instinct, or divine intervention!