Want to Win? Execute Great Process Consistently

In the 2016 Final Four championship game, UNC staged a comeback and tied Villanova with 4.7 seconds left in the game. But Villanova took charge and won their first title in 30 years by flawlessly executing a play called “Nova”, which they had practiced almost every day. Their success dramatically illustrates how consistent process wins big.

The Entrepreneurial Operating System® (EOS) teaches business leaders to simplify and document key core processes. And then coach their teams to follow those processes consistently.  But many teams resist this work because they think it is boring or limits creativity of their best people. Nothing could be more wrong.

“Systemize the predictable to humanize the exceptional”. Issy Sharp (founder of Four Seasons Hotels) taught his employees to master the basics, so they could adapt to special situations and deliver the amazing customer service that built the legendary Four Seasons reputation. Running “Nova”, Villanova’s players reacted quickly because the key elements of the play were “automatic”, freeing up mind space to adapt to UNC’s moves.

This same concept works in business: Consistent process frees up your people to deliver their best performance.  Process is not boring or limiting.

Attitude. Excellent teams are all-in on process, dedicated to the final result, not individual glory. During the timeout before the final play, Daniel Ochefu, a 6-foot-11 Villanova senior, grabbed a giant mop from courtside and wiped up a wet spot on the floor where he had fallen. He knew he had to set a pick there to make the “Nova” play successful. He wanted to make sure the floor was dry, even if he had to mop the floor on national television to get it done.

Ochefu knew the play, and wanted to make sure his team was successful, doing whatever was needed. Each member of the Villanova team was prepared to give their best effort, because they knew everyone was totally dedicated to doing their part the “Wildcat Way”.

In business, team dedication to executing your processes flawlessly will delight your customers, and improve your profitability and scalability.

Villanova’s great execution brought them the 2016 NCAA basketball championship, followed by a second championship in 2018. And they will participate in the Final Four again this year. Consistent process produces wins in sports and in business.

To see the “Nova” play in action, follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTThyQPoXxY

Catherine Cates is a Professional EOS Implementer, and a lifelong UNC fan who still cries watching this video.