Leadership Lessons From a Pitching Coach

In 2003, as many of Chicago, I was almost glued to the TV in September and October to watch the Cubs baseball team during the playoffs. As a die-hard Cubs fan and suburban north-Sider, of course I root for my team, no matter how far they went in the series.

The team had been transformed over the previous year due to a combination of things, great leadership being one of them.

During a game in early October, the Cub pitching coach went to the mound to talk with pitcher Mark Prior. One of the commentators said: "He is one of the best pitching coaches, if not the best." Another commenter asked why he thought. He replied: "Because not only knows the technical aspects of pitching She rises also know that as a person ... What makes you tick, what makes you work well or do not work well you get to know your family"

This commenter recognized good coaching baseball coaching from someone who coaches a player in more than just the technical areas of pro baseball. Life affects the whole person. This great pitching coach, is recognized as the largest current and former players, because he knows how to turn average pitchers into great pitchers, and you use more than mere technical exercises. It moves and motivates the players to get to excellence in their minds, their emotions, and what is important to them, without being intrusive.

It 'the same way in business. If I, as a coach, just stick to subjects with customers involving their business, I could be missing something. Not that I learn of the people-business non-private lives. No, those of you who have known me for a little 'know that I tend not to dig there. Understanding what makes people tick (and how well they work against the way they do not work well), however, can lead to "data", which focuses on business and working people. If, as the pitching coach, I know a client beyond "technical pitching", I can help you achieve greater goals (such as Cubs pitchers, to inaugurate their team in a bigger place I've ever seen him go in my life).

If we translate the pitching coach / pitcher relationship to that of the boss / employee, many of the same principles apply as well. Knowing employees: what makes them tick, what makes them work well or do not work well, and, if necessary, get to know their family (or, know their family) goes a long way toward motivation-to- excellence, in addition to coaching and leading technical expertise. This type of leadership can turn average employees into hard workers .......