Last month several of us went to see four-time Olympic gold medallist and Britain’s first Tour de France champion, Sir Bradley Wiggins, launch his latest book as part of one of our High Performance People evenings.

The purpose of these events is simple: hear real stories from elite performers, then discuss the themes that apply to the modern workplace and specifically to the real estate sector.

Wiggins’ book The Chain is a compelling read and unsurprisingly there is a whole chapter dedicated to the now-infamous “jiffy bag” mystery. This was a package sent from British Cycling’s Manchester HQ to the team doctor ahead of the final day of a major race that the team went on to win.

The incident grew into a high-profile story involving both a UK Anti-Doping investigation and a Parliamentary Inquiry. One reason it attracted so much attention was Team Sky’s brand promise. When the team launched in 2010 with the mission to win the Tour de France with a clean British rider within five years, they built their identity around a bold blue line.

That blue line appeared on jerseys, helmets, bikes, team cars and buses, and throughout their media and digital branding. It represented the line between winning and losing, between being good and being great. In the post-Lance Armstrong era the line also took on a deeper symbolism. It became seen as the ethical performance line and a boundary the team stated it would not cross.

However, as any good Party Wall Surveyor will tell you, success depends on understanding where the true centre line actually lies and not simply the outer face. Team Sky’s position, like many elite teams, was to identify the centre line of that bold blue line and work right up to it.

Last month’s insight, PERFORMANCE // Progress Not Perfection, highlighted Pep Guardiola’s continual refreshment of his elite teams. Since then Pep has been working right up to the line as well.

A few games ago Guardiola delivered an unorthodox mid-game tactical talk to his outfield players when City’s goalkeeper ‘received medical attention’ on the pitch. If it had been an outfield player receiving treatment they would not have had the opportunity because outfield players are required to leave the pitch after treatment, removing the chance for a huddle. City operated within the rules, much to the opposition’s frustration, and went on to win. Pep used his detailed understanding of the nuances of the rules, and worked within them, to affect the game’s outcome.

Reaching the highest levels of performance requires an intimate understanding of the rules, where they start, where they end and where the centre of those boundaries truly sits.

In real estate the rules are becoming more complex. Regulatory, technical, environmental, financial and social considerations are increasing month by month. With this growing complexity no one can reasonably be expected to know all the rules so having the right specialist consultant in the right role matters more than ever. Understanding where the true centre line sits and working up to it can be the difference between success and failure.

Getting it wrong can also make you look like a cheat.