photo credit: Thomas Huston via photopin cc
Recently I was attending a Detroit Tigers baseball game with my daughter. She is still learning the game, so when the manager left the dugout to go talk to the pitcher during the middle of the game she was confused. “What is he doing Dad?,” she asked as the skipper made a slow strut to the pitching mound. “He is checking in with the pitcher to see if he is feeling OK, if he needs anything, remind him of the game plan, or to simply encourage him,” I explained to my young fan. This question got me thinking. How many times do we check in with the players on our team?
The quick check in, or mound visit, is essential for a healthy workplace. If we are being observant of our team it becomes obvious when one of them needs a visit. How many times a week do you simply stop by an employee’s workstation to see how they are doing? Do you regularly talk to staff about what they need to succeed? Are quick morning meetings in which you review the events of the day commonplace? Is recognition and encouragement the norm?
I’m a huge fan of the idea that leaders try their best to interact with their team members once a week. The benefits of leaving your dugout to be more actively involved in the game are enormous. This is something I have decided to committing myself to doing during the second half of the year. I also love the idea of short, 5-10 minute, morning meetings just before you open. This allows for a review of the day’s events as well as a chance to recognize and celebrate success.
One of my favorite scenes in the movie Bull Durham is when the catcher Crash Davis , played by Kevin Costner, calls time out to talk to his pitcher Calvin LaLoosh, played by Tim Robbins (see below NSFW). LaLoosh is nervous because his dad is in the stands cheering him on, so Davis does what all great catchers do and distracts him. Soon the rest of the team is at the mound discussing their problems and Davis goes on to help them all. Don’t be afraid to visit the mound. Make it a regular part of your leadership duties and it will result in a winning team.
