Will It Make the Boat Go Faster? Applying Elite Sporting Focus to Business Strategy

In the run-up to the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, the British men’s rowing eight had a single, relentless focus, to win the Olympic Gold, to this they focused in on the singular thing that would help them achieve that and asked, “Will it make the boat go faster?” This simple yet profound question was the brainchild of Ben Hunt-Davis, an Olympic gold medallist, who later co-authored the book Will It Make the Boat Go Faster? with Harriet Beveridge.

The philosophy behind this mantra was straightforward; every decision, every action, every strategy was evaluated against one core goal, winning Olympic gold. If something contributed to that goal, it was prioritised. If it didn’t, it was eliminated.

This principle is more than just a sporting mindset, it’s a powerful strategic tool for business leaders. In a world where distractions, competing priorities, and ever-changing market conditions can pull organisations in multiple directions, focusing relentlessly on what truly drives results can be the difference between growth and stagnation.

Applying "Will It Make the Boat Go Faster?" to Business Strategy

In business, just as in sport, clarity of purpose and disciplined execution are key to success. Here’s how this principle can be applied to setting and achieving strategic objectives:

🔹 Define Your 'Gold Medal' Goal – What is the ultimate success metric for your business? Is it revenue growth, market dominance, operational efficiency, customer retention, or innovation? Without a clear and compelling vision, decision-making becomes reactive rather than strategic.

🔹 Evaluate Every Decision Against Your Core Objective – Just like Hunt-Davis and his team assessed every action by whether it would make their boat go faster, businesses should assess initiatives by asking: "Will this get us closer to our strategic goal?" This applies to everything from product development and hiring decisions to marketing spend and operational changes.

🔹 Cut Out the Noise – Many businesses get bogged down in projects and activities that don’t meaningfully contribute to success. Prioritisation is key. If an initiative doesn’t directly contribute to strategic growth, question why you’re investing resources in it.

🔹 Build a High-Performance Culture – For a business strategy to work, everyone needs to be aligned with the mission. Teams should be encouraged to challenge activities that don’t serve the overarching goal. Leaders should empower teams to focus on high-impact tasks rather than being consumed by low-value work.

Potential Downfalls & How to Overcome Them

While this philosophy is powerful, applying it blindly can create unintended challenges. Here are some potential pitfalls and ways to mitigate them:

⚠️ Risk of Tunnel Vision – Over-focusing on a single metric (e.g., revenue growth) can lead to neglecting other important factors like employee engagement, customer experience, or innovation.

✅ Solution: Balance strategic focus with long-term sustainability by ensuring that key enablers (culture, talent, customer satisfaction) aren’t compromised.

⚠️ Over-Simplification – Not every decision is a binary "yes or no" when it comes to contributing to success. Some initiatives have delayed payoffs (e.g., brand-building, employee development) but still play a crucial role.

✅ Solution:Recognise that some initiatives require long-term investment and adjust expectations accordingly. Ensure that the "boat" isn’t just going faster but also heading in the right direction.

⚠️ Employee Burnout – A relentless focus on performance and results without considering well-being and engagementcan lead to burnout and high turnover. ✅ Solution: High performance should not come at the cost of mental and physical well-being. Encourage sustainable working practices and celebrate progress, not just outcomes.

The power of “Will it make the boat go faster?” lies in its ruthless simplicity—it forces leaders to focus on what truly matters and discard distractions. However, the best business strategies combine focus with flexibility, discipline with adaptability, and execution with long-term vision.

Ask yourself and your leadership team: Are we prioritising what truly moves the needle, or are we getting lost in the noise? If you want to sharpen your strategic focus and align your leadership approach, let’s talk.

🚀 Book a 30-minute strategy session to explore how this principle can drive your business forward.

#Leadership #Strategy #HighPerformance #BusinessGrowth #Focus #DecisionMaking