Our fifth pillar is Attention To The Details. This pillar is the one that underpins all the others. Without Attention To The Details all the other things fall apart. Or never get put together in the first place.
Probably the two most common themes that football announcers talk about in regard to excellent defenses are,
1. The players are disciplined to stay where they are supposed to and play their position.
2. Properly tackle through the offensive player.
These two things are details that most players never get right. Even the professionals. But those who do get these things right win championships and earn their way into the Hall of Fame.
When the players go onto the field, if they stay put where they are supposed to, and play their positions… most of the time, the defense is NOT GREAT. It might be good or it might even be horrible, depending on how many times the players don’t follow the procedures and play their position. Only when the whole team does what they are supposed to, does the team dominate. When a team can do that for an entire season… they win the championship!
Following up the next year with another championship team is extremely rare. Because players leave and new ones come in. The perpetual championship team is committed, as a group, to hold each other accountable and to train the new players to the championship way. They don’t let each other get lazy. One blown assignment can cost the game! One blown game can cost the season!
Attention to the details in technique is extremely important. The way to tackle is to drive into the torso of your opponent, wrap your arms around them and take them to the ground. Many football players don’t pay attention to the details of the technique in tackling and try to push the offensive player over. Or maybe try to grab a leg and pull them down. Sloppy tackling loses games.
The same thing is true with our work and our customers. Not playing our position, sloppy workmanship, and lack of focus can cost us customers. We have to train ourselves when we are in the game (which means when we are at work), we have to be focused and paying attention to the details. Every customer – Every time. Because when we blow our assignment it could cost us the game!