“To be number one, you need to train like you are number two”
Maurice Greene – the fastest man alive – an American former sprinter, Olympic gold medalist, and a five-time World Champion.
In every stage of our life, people will always tell you to be number one, to be at the top, the unbeaten. Sure, being number one has its own perks. In business, the number one will be considered as the innovator, and the rest are “followers”. In personal matters, being number one will grant you the spotlight, the fame, and glory. Almost nobody speaks of be a smart second.
But, as an old proverb said: with great power comes great responsibility, being a number one will also put you constantly in the spotlight. Whenever you make a progress or a mistake, people will judge you. Being number one comes with a great pressure – and if you’re not up to it, you will be crumbled.
Maurice Greene’s insight speaks to the essence of humility and resilience—the virtues of be a smart second. In every sphere of life, whether it be in the boardroom or on the playing field, the journey to success often begins with embracing the role of number two. While the allure of being number one may be intoxicating, it is the foundation laid as a smart second that paves the way for true leadership and mastery.
Consider the realm of business, where the dynamics of leadership are often defined by the interplay between visionaries and their trusted lieutenants. While the spotlight may shine brightest on the CEO—the visionary driving the company forward—it is the savvy second-in-command who provides the essential support and stability needed to sustain success. A smart second understands the nuances of leadership, possessing the humility to serve and the courage to challenge, all while embodying the ethos of loyalty and collaboration.
Hence, you need to learn to be a smart second, before you can take the number one spot.
Yes, there is not much glory in being number two. However, the number two position often is the most needed and critical in every organization.
Every leader dream to have a strong second in command. Someone who is supportive and complements the leader, with skills that are needed by the company.
To be great at number two, you will need the following skills:
- High level of support for the number one. Be the first to show support. A number two means you shall learn humility and being a true supporter.
- Leading the rest of the team by example. As second-in-command, you are also a leader. It means you have a role to lead and make sure your team has not gone astray.
- Understands that you can influence greatly by moving freely behind the scenes. As number two, your role is to influence the moral and opinions of the team. The rest of the team will listen to you, use this power wisely.
- Great listener. You are required to identify the needs of others. You shall learn to listen and observe, not only your number one but also the rest of the team.
- Shows loyalty and courage. You should be able to break down both bad and good news. As number two, you should implement a two-way communication – from top to down and vice versa.
- Able and willing to challenge the number one – to help them make the right decisions.
- Understands that the spotlight is not on you.
Being number two is about mindset. Number two don’t have the same pressure as number one. You can watch and learn from the number one’s mistake. Also, you will have a clearer goal – to set a better time, to be better than number one. You will have a greater amount of freedom than number one. Use this freedom to ask questions, to finds solutions, to innovates, to ventures into the unknown.
You will need to ask the unasked questions to understand thoroughly about the situation and the organization you are in. A number two will need to strike a balance: between knowledge and curiosity, and between being a supporter and a leader.
If you can master these skills then you will finally be ready to be a number one. So, whenever the opportunity arises and you were selected as number two, then bear in mind that this is the final preparation step for you. You will be a better leader when you already passed as a great number two. Remember, a leader always supports and serve other first.
However, I’m not saying that the goal of number two is to take over number one.
As the current number two, you will have a clearer picture of the situation around you. Use this to do things differently. In the long run, all those things you do differently just may change the world.
So, the next time you find yourself vying for the top spot, remember the sage advice of Maurice Greene: “To be number one, you need to train like you are number two.” Be a smart second, and in doing so, you may just discover that the greatest victories lie not in individual achievement, but in the collective journey of growth and transformation.
