Take me Out to the Ball Game
This month’s mood: Responsibility
I was listening to: Take me out to the Ball Game
Business, like life, is like a baseball game. It offers lots of options, many decisions and requires you to play on a team. You can’t win on your own; you don’t lose by yourself. It starts with desire and ends with a variety of powerful and nail biting experiences and business integration team roles apply. And if you work hard you can make the impossible happen. And for the naysayers out there…ask the Boston Red Sox.
My Dad used to say, “If you look closely baseball will teach you all you need to know.” Unfortunately, Pete Rose messed his analogy up but good! And I can’t say that the steroid cheating players received my Dad’s lessons early enough. And yet the lessons still hold up.
Lesson 1: Who you hang with counts! Build Community
In life everyone is on a Team/Community. Actually, we are on several teams. Teams, like businesses and individuals, compete. On a baseball team, you have 9 players on the field at one time but there are lots of other players on the team. Everyone has the 3 “R” rule – a role, responsibilities and results they have to deliver. It is not just the 9 players on the field. The coaches, the sports therapists and doctors, the manager(s), the batboy, the field crew, the ticket holders, the owners, etc. all come together for a purpose. The better the synergy and connection, the better the performance.
Are you hanging with a winning team?
Lesson 2: Be fanatical about your strategy (know what you need to focus on to get the results)
The owners, management and coaches define the vision and the Team/Community works tirelessly to deliver it. Of course you want to win the pennant and to make that happen you have to clearly identify how you will get there. It is about understanding what needs to be done this year to meet expectations. It is about changing it up – the players, the tactics, and the coaching staff – anything that will help you get to your outcomes. Be fanatical about strategy and lighten up on the tactics.
Are you focused on strategies that will drive or steal market share?
Lesson 3: Everyone contributes if you are going to win.
In a community you have to work to maximize the potential of each person on the team. It is about coming together to win each game and entertain the fans. It is about selling seats, hot dogs, caps and creating energy that gets an entire community engaged in each game. Everyone contributes.
Is everyone contributing to the revenue strategies?
Lesson 4: How you think Matters – Think Positive
Whether you win or lose is a reflection of how you play and how you think. How we play games in life reflects how we live and how we work. If you want to see how your team is really playing take them out for a good game of volleyball. People tell you who they are by how they play. Some people play full out (keep them – in baseball they are the hustlers) while others do not (trade them…you don’t have time)
Are your leaders encouraging and engaging people so they feel positive?
Lesson 5: Define Roles and Responsibilities – it’s the only way to hold people accountable.
All teams have different roles available. Each role is vital or it wouldn’t exist. Teams can’t afford dead weight nor can they afford positions that don’t make important and reliable contributions. Not everyone will be the home run hitter or the shut out pitcher. Some people will actually have playing time and others will be on the bench waiting for their opportunity to contribute when they are needed or something goes wrong. And others will ensure there are enough balls for practice, promotions to sell seats, clean uniforms, bats, and strategies that will outsmart the opposing team. Respect everyone’s responsibilities.
Does everyone know what they deliver to the Community?
Lesson 6: Always be Learning – Skills Count
As with any sport or activity, practice matters and doesn’t stop when you make it to the top. It is a consistent, endless, disciplined commitment that at times is downright tiring. Sometimes you don’t feel like it or you would prefer to do other things. But as an opera singer must train their voice, you must do the same in work/life and on your “field”. Once you stop practicing you will lose your edge and you will lose your spot on the team to someone with more commitment, better results and consistency.
Are you retraining people to ensure they can perform in this “new economy”?
Lesson 7: Make Smart Choices and Try New Ways
Just like in baseball once you get on base you have new opportunities and choices. Knowing the pitcher might give you a better lead off first; being a strong sprinter may set you up to steal second; watching the coach might allow you to see more than your current perspective; or you may just get lucky and someone will hit you a home run.
Are people still doing things the same old way or are they thinking and doing things differently?
Lesson 8: Effort counts.
The more effort you put into the responsibility the more results you will cultivate. You can sit and hope that things will happen, which is a victim mentality, or you can get up and move it. Make something happen.
In the end, it is getting around the bases which allows us to win the game and eventually the pennant (aka market share). In today’s realities know that the old stuff doesn’t work the way it used to so start looking, thinking, preparing and making assertive decisions. Stop hoping that the other team is worse than you. That’s not how you win the pennant!
Are your people working smart and putting in the effort needed to win market share?
Renie Cavallari is CEO and Chief Inspirational Officer for Aspire, an international training and consulting company positioning organizations to achieve optimum performance. Aspire provides innovative sales and customer service training, strategic marketing, leadership skills and cultural alignment for increasing revenues, growth in market share, a re-energized sales force and lasting changes in attitudes and outcome. Founded in 1995, Aspire has headquarters in Phoenix with a network of inspiring professionals across the country.
For more information on how to improve sales and leadership even in turbulent times talk with Renie directly at www.tipsonleadership.com . Check out Renie’s new book at www.officialgirlfriendsgetawayguide.com
