The End of an Inning - Leadership with a Baseball Analogy

EVERYTHING ENDS. Good or bad everything eventually ends. You can prepare for years or it can catch you off guard, but everything will eventually end. Parents and leaders please take time to step back and find the joy in the success of your children or reports. Build their confidence, be the guide when they need support. Enjoy their growth!

I talk to a lot of people and I've shared with other parents, coaches, coworkers, random people I don’t know that I’ve cornered and forced to listen about how “I will miss it when it is over”. This past Wednesday the words finally rang true. The picture on the left above is a picture from one of if not the first game my oldest pitched in, June 20th, 2015, 9 years ago. The picture on the right is of a 17 year old’s last pitch. A strike looking in a league that he’s played in since tee ball. He also pitched for a while in high school, but stopped to focus on basketball. He’s 6’8” and has a number of colleges talking to him as he heads into his senior year, so it was the right choice. BUT! PITCHING! Pitching has always held a special place in my heart. From the early days of following baseball, the pitchers were always my favorite! I get teary eyed thinking about it now.

In the moment I was always nervous, especially early on. Over time he grew more consistent as his confidence grew. Standing alone on the mound with every player, coach, and spectator hanging on your next pitch. Every billions of possible outcomes in baseball depending on if you can get the ball over the plate, get the batter to swing, or fool them to the point that they don’t. I knew early I would miss watching him pitch some day. I truly found joy in his success! There was always an urge to coach from the sidelines. There was a bigger urge to have conversations on the car ride home about changes or performance. I eventually learned that it didn’t help. That I was making those conversations or car rides home something that he didn’t look forward to. Understanding what was important to share immediately. Knowing what could wait to not create unnecessary anxiety. Allowing him time to rest, or decompress was key and giving advice or coaching when he asked. I still struggle with it after his basketball games sometimes, especially since basketball was my sport. It’s similar in the business world. Creating a safe space for employees to know that you have their backs and that conversations are a safe space to work though issues, or ask questions. Not necessarily "coaching from the sidelines" (micromanaging), but knowing how to give meaningful and timely feedback. Understanding when to push employees into uncomfortable, but controlled, business situations where multiple levels and departments will have eyes on their progress or deliverables. Build their confidence. Let them skin their knees, but not break their bones. The entire time KNOWING that if they’re successful enough that your time leading them will end. All while enjoying the time you have with them. I have had moderate individual success and have been recognized by my employers and peers as a top performer in the past. BUT, what I value more are the former employees that reach out for advice, or to keep in touch, or to offer help. People with titles far more important than I’ve ever had, or will have (or even WANT to have) still value my thoughts and opinions.?The relationships and network are far more important to me than the extra slide in the team meeting, the plastic awards that are in a box in my basement, or one time bonuses ever were. It goes by faster than you can ever imagine.

The good thing about endings is that they often lead to new beginnings. I would give anything to watch him pitch again, but know that basketball is right around the corner and that his younger brother is a pretty solid baseball player and pitcher. I love watching both. In business there are new beginnings too, a new employee that is eager to learn, a new position with more or different responsibilities, a new company all together! Just remember to take time along the way to enjoy it with the understanding that it will end some time too. Everything does! It's only been a few days, but GOD I MISS WATCHING HIM PITCH!