Lessons from Baseball

In baseball, when pitchers walk too many batters or allow too many runs, the coach typically changes pitchers.  When coaches loose too many games, they are replaced. In baseball, players routinely look to themselves to get out of slumps and virtually never blame the coach. They rely on the coach to allow them to keep establishing their own record no matter how the team performs.  Players are genuinely ecstatic when their team wins and keeps winning.  Players react with “gratefulness” if they are included on a team that plays in the World Series.  Players know that they are pros and their team members are pros and the other teams are full of pros. They are realists in a game that has tight tolerances and is dependent on lots of variables.  Players seem to appreciate talented coaches who know how to build winning teams and are grateful if they are included in this process. Many players and coaches move around and are continually driven to add to their own individual accomplishments. This is emphasized by the fact that their statistics remain on record and are continually referred to. Teams who end the season at the top feel lucky. Teams who end the season at the bottom are regarded as “in development” and they work harder to do better next time. Teams may move to other cities and a few teams have been closed. But the Baseball Industry is unique by operating in its open and public bubble. Baseball is likely to continue to be a role model for all organizations.

The pros in business know this lesson well.  They recognize that they are in their position at this place and time to get the results their organization needs in this place and time. They take these jobs to accomplish specific things they believe the organization needs. When they do this, they are satisfied. They maintain their own record of accomplishment in their resumes and in their new worth.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader