ROI and the Power of Marginal Gains — How Small Improvements Deliver Big Results

When business leaders talk about improving performance, they often chase breakthroughs — the big idea, the new system, the game-changing hire.

But here’s the truth: sustained growth rarely comes from one giant leap.
It comes from a series of small, disciplined steps that compound over time.

That’s the essence of the Marginal Gains philosophy — a principle that revolutionized British Cycling under Sir Dave Brailsford and transformed it from a century of mediocrity into Olympic and Tour de France dominance.

And it’s the same principle that underpins the Scaling Up and Strategic Discipline frameworks we use to help companies grow with consistency and confidence.

The Story: 1% Better, Everywhere

When Brailsford took over British Cycling, the team had never won a Tour de France.
Within five years, they didn’t just win — they dominated.

His secret wasn’t new technology or superstar talent. It was a relentless obsession with small, 1% improvements in every area that mattered.

They optimized everything:

• Tire grip and seat ergonomics
• Recovery sleep quality
• Nutrition and hygiene routines
• Even how to wash hands to prevent illness

The philosophy was simple:

“If you improve everything you do by just 1%, those gains add up to something extraordinary.”

And they did. Team Sky went on to win five Tour de France titles in six years — a feat that changed the sport forever.

The Business Translation: ROI in Small Steps

Business growth works the same way.
Big results rarely come from one initiative — they come from a series of small, measurable gains that build momentum.

As Brailsford said:

“You can walk a thousand miles, but only one step at a time.
Aggregate those incremental gains, and you’ll get somewhere remarkable.”

The lesson for leaders: stop chasing the “big fix.”

Start improving the 1% you can control — every day, across every system, process, and person.

The CORE Principles of Marginal Gains

Brailsford’s framework for performance excellence can be summarized as C.O.R.E. — principles that any organization can adopt:

C = Commitment

Screen people for genuine commitment.
Motivation fluctuates, but commitment endures.
If someone isn’t deeply aligned with the mission, no amount of coaching will turn them into a high performer. 

O = Ownership

People don’t like being told what to do — they like to own their goals.
Brailsford required every cyclist to have an opinion and a plan for improvement.
Ownership builds engagement. Engagement builds accountability.

R = Responsibility

Accountability must be crystal clear.
People need to know exactly what they’re responsible for — and equally, what they’re not.
Ambiguity is the enemy of performance.

E = Excellence

This isn’t world-stage perfection — it’s about being the best version of yourself.
Personal excellence becomes cultural excellence when everyone commits to improvement, not comparison.

What Do Marginal Gains Look Like in Business?

Marginal gains are the everyday optimizations that compound into strategic advantage.

Examples include:

• Simplifying your meeting structure — clear agendas, no interruptions, defined outcomes.
• Automating small admin tasks to free leadership focus.
• Improving onboarding by 1% each month — a faster ramp-up compounds into higher team performance.
• Fine-tuning pricing strategy or cash management using tools like the Power of One.

Each improvement feels minor in isolation.
Together, they create a measurable ROI that can transform your business.

“You can’t manage what you don’t measure.
And what you don’t measure, you don’t understand.”

That’s why disciplined metrics, aligned with ownership and feedback, are non-negotiable in a culture of marginal gains.

Final Thought

Great businesses — like great teams — don’t win by accident.
They win by committing to the small things that make the big things possible.

So stop waiting for the big breakthrough.
Start building your 1% advantage today.

Want to apply the Marginal Gains philosophy in your business?

Contact me at tedb@strategyandexecution.com.au to schedule a free 30-minute discovery meeting.

Ted Bonel – Strategy & Execution Advisors
tedb@strategyandexecution.com.au
www.strategyandexecution.com.au

About Strategy & Execution

We have been providing organisations and their leaders with facilitation support and executive education focused on strategy development & strategy execution for more than 20 years. We support organisations seeking to create or refine excellent strategies and execute them quickly and effectively.

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