Why a monday.com implementation is like swimming the 200 metre breaststroke

Anyone who knows me a little knows that I have been a competitive swimmer since a young age. Breaststroke is my favourite stroke and the 200 metres my favourite distance. It is a distance that has to be balanced technically, strategically and mentally. Every detail counts.

And to be honest: a successful monday.com implementation works in exactly the same way. It isn't about a flying start, but about the right rhythm, momentum and accelerating when it matters.

1. The start: controlled, not flat out

In the first 50 metres of the 200 metre breaststroke, it is tempting to go all out straight away. But every 200 metre breaststroke swimmer knows that starting too fast costs you the race. Lactic acid builds up, your technique falls apart and the last 100 metres become a struggle.

The best swimmers start steady and controlled, so they can build the race sustainably.

Exactly the same applies to a monday.com implementation. Starting too big or too fast leads to:

• overloaded staff
• resistance
• unnecessary complexity

Start small: one process, one team and one board. That gives room for focus, clarity and buy-in. Just as a controlled start in the pool supports the rest of the race.

2. The middle section: mastering rhythm, technique and stroke rate

The strength of the 200 metre breaststroke lies in the perfect coordination of arms, legs, timing and stroke rate. Go too fast and you lose technique. Go too slow and you lose rhythm.

It is about finding a sustainable, efficient pace.

A monday.com implementation demands the same discipline:

• building iteratively in small steps
• making small improvements
• testing straight away
• processing feedback at the right moment

This creates a rhythm that is fast enough to make progress, yet controlled enough not to overload teams. That rhythm keeps staff engaged and shows the value of every step.

3. The momentum moment: when timing, collaboration and technique come together

The real speed in breaststroke comes from the kick: the powerful movement of the legs. But a kick on its own isn't enough. Everything revolves around three factors:

• the kick (source of power)
• the timing (exactly when the arms come forward)
• the glide (using your speed before the next stroke begins)

If any one of these three is off, you lose momentum.

With monday.com it works in exactly the same way. Momentum builds when:

• the foundation is in place (structure and rhythm)
• the first gains can be felt (power and propulsion)
• teams are given time to experience results (impact and insight)

This is the moment when staff start asking questions themselves. Curiosity grows and new optimisations emerge of their own accord.

4. The last 50 metres: accelerate, accelerate, accelerate

In the closing stage, good breaststroke swimmers raise their stroke rate and use their remaining strength.

In a monday.com implementation, this is the moment of professionalisation:

• advanced or cross-board automations
• integrations (e.g. Outlook or Teams)
• dashboards and reporting
• governance and a management structure

Because buy-in and trust have been built up, this acceleration feels logical. The team is ready for it. The pace can go up without confusion or resistance.

Conclusion

You don't win a successful monday.com implementation with an explosive start but with balance, rhythm and controlled acceleration. Starting small prevents resistance. A good rhythm builds trust. Momentum builds when technique, timing and effort come together, just as in a strong 200 metre breaststroke.