Major League Baseball's 2012 World Series kicks off tonight, with the
National League's San Francisco Giants up against the American League's
Detroit Tigers. While much rests on how the players perform, each team
is guided by its manager, who is responsible for making decisions in key
moments that ultimately affect how games are won.
At first glance, one might think that the role of a baseball
manager is to eat sunflower seeds and kick dirt on home plate when a
call needs to be argued. But if you dive deeper into the role, you can
find that they have many responsibilities that go beyond having the best
seat in the stadium -- and some that mirror those of great business leaders.
Here are three ways you can manage your business like a MLB manager:
1. Understand the numbers but follow your gut.
When New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi decided to bench star third
baseman Alex Rodriguez in the 9th inning of a playoff game this season,
he chose to replace one of the all-time greatest hitters in MLB history
with Raul Ibanez, an aging pinch hitter.
The result? Ibanez hit a home run and then another in the 12th inning
to win the game for the Yankees. When asked about his decision, Girardi
said "I just kind of had a gut feeling."
Lesson: In business, managers can conduct research
to obtain information that will help them make decisions. But while
understanding the numbers is important, at times managers need to put
the numbers aside and follow their instincts.
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2. Make difficult decisions and stand by them.
Former Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona had a similar, difficult decision
when his team was facing elimination against the Yankees in the 2004
playoffs. Despite the criticism his decision could have generated,
Francona chose to keep center fielder Johnny Damon in the line-up even
though he was struggling at the plate. Damon turned out to be a critical
cog in the Red Sox offense for the remainder of the series, pushing the
team to one of the greatest comebacks in baseball history.
Lesson: There is no way of knowing the outcome of a
decision before it's made. But managers need to make hard decisions,
learn from their mistakes and adjust to improve their results the next
time.
3. Keep calm and carry on.
San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy has faced adversity all season.
His closing pitcher has been sidelined by an injury, his two best
starting pitchers struggled and his all-star outfielder was suspended
for failing a drug test.
But Bochy calmly went about making decisions on starting pitchers and
lineup changes in an effort to give his team the best chance to win.
Despite the challenges, his team overcame insurmountable odds during the
playoffs and advanced to its second World Series in three years.
Lesson: In business, everything doesn't always go as
planned. Leaders are responsible for instilling confidence in their
employees -- during good and difficult times.
3 Ways to Lead Your Business Like a Baseball Manager
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