Winning ( Chapter 3 ) Differentiation - Steven Gerrard, the captain of Liverpool

In Chapter 3 of Winning, Jack Welch tells us that the values of differentiation.

The differentiation can be defined in a company into two parts. Software = people, Hardware = product lines. The people part can be separated the employees into 3 categories, top 20%, middle 70% and bottom 10%.

The top 10% are the best and no mistaking the stars at a company that differentiates. The middle 70% are the majority of the employees. The bottom 10% should leave the company. If the companies would like to win in the market, the managers should make a clear and meaningful distinction between top and bottom performing business and people. The top management system should cultivate the strong and cull the weak.

Several procedures would be carried out under the implementation of 20-70-10 and it cannot implement quickly. The leader should scrutinize people more closely and to provide more consistent, candid feedback, rewards those members of the team who deserve it. Keep training the middle 70% to provide high standard performance and improve every day. Moreover, protecting underperformers always backfires.

Steven Gerrard MBE, is an English professional football player who plays for and captains English Premier league club Liverpool and the England national team. He is the classic model of middle 70% when he just started his career in Liverpool 1999.

Gerrard has scored in nearly every major final that he has appeared in for Liverpool, proving that he is somebody to be relied upon in big match occasions. Prominent among them is the headed goal against AC Milan in the Champions League final in 2005, which kickstarted Liverpool's amazing comeback and the last minute stunning 35 yard equaliser against West Ham in the FA Cup 2006 Final. He was also on the scoresheet in the 2001 UEFA Cup final against Alaves and the 2003 League Cup final against arch rivals Manchester United. He is also remembered for his crucial 25 yard strike against Olympiakos in the Champions League which assured the Reds of a place in the last 16 of Europe's most prestigious club competition. While Ian Rush still holds most of Liverpool's scoring records, Gerrard is the club's highest scorer in Europe.

In 2010, John Terry was replaced by Rio Ferdinand as captain, following revelations about the former’s private life, and Gerrard subsequently became vice-captain.

During preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, however, Rio Ferdinand was injured, meaning that Gerrard was appointed by Capello as captain for the tournament.

Obviously, the coach in Liverpool and the new coach Fabio Capello of England spend so much time on Steven Gerrard when he was in the middle 70% to reach the top 20% football player. Steven Gerrard improves step by step and he becomes the top 20% which gives the group a tangible goal and having that goal makes them work harder. They can think more creatively, share more ideas, and overall, fight the good fight everyday.