Former professional rugby player Nic Stirzaker of Gain Line Analytics tackles a fundamental question: why do some teams truly succeed while others fail? 

The conversation challenges our obsession with constant change, arguing that the real driver of performance is the often-overlooked power of team cohesion - the deep, shared understanding between members built over time. 

Nic illustrates this through compelling analogies, from the difficulty of riding a "backwards bike" to the inefficiency of navigating an unfamiliar supermarket, to show how disruption and "unlearning" old habits carry a heavy price. He also unpacks the "swing the pendulum" effect, where decisions made by leadership create amplified negative consequences for those on the front line. 

The discussion reveals how our instinct to react to failure with immediate changes, a tendency called "action bias," is often counterproductive and can make a bad situation worse. 

Ultimately, this episode makes a powerful case for the underestimated value of patience and stability in building winning teams in both sports and business.

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Connect with Linsey Houston: 

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Connect with Nic Stirzaker:

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🔗 Website: https://www.gainline.biz/

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