Even More Lessons from Baseball
Last March I posted this "Lessons from Baseball" post which provides interesting insight on group dynamics and why some teams excel and others don't. As the season winds down and playoffs are underway, today's WSJ has a timely article describing some additional lessons to be learned ( available here, registration required) from baseball discussing "The Culture of Winning." The article notes that the Atlanta Braves have won 14 straight division titles. The team's General Manager, John Schuerholz, attributes this streak to his views on how to transform a losing culture. He suggests the following:
- Gather everyone, communicate the plan and preach it daily
- Constantly remind them it works
- Don't be afraid to get rid of the people who don't buy in
- Make the lowest-level employees feel as important to success as the top-level executives
- Show trust in everyone to do their jobs well
Seems to me all of these tips can be taken back to the corporate world and implemented in our workplaces. When organizations are going through major strategic transitions, everyone needs to be communicated with, feel valued and empowered to do their jobs in order for the transition to be successful. Let's hope the Yanks do that as well for the rest of the playoffs......