A Great Coaching Organization: The Milwaukee Brewers

One of the best coaching organizations I've ever seen is the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team. Now, before you make assumptions I'm talking about the manager Craig Counsell or just the sports side of things hold on. I'm actually talking about the entire organization. One of the things I love about working with this organization is they always represent the mentality of how to help their people develop and grow. For the past 15 years I've had the pleasure of working with this organization and they continue to implement and integrate new strategies along with coaching and mentoring strategies to create success. It is not uncommon to have a young sales rep have to stand up in front of his or her peers and lead a session. It is not uncommon for them to ask one another to role play and work with each other to personally improve. I can share firsthand the incredible stories of how they treat their fans. Recently, a friend of mine went to the game with his son and one of the Brewers personnel showed up with a bag of bobble heads and a happy birthday card. This friend and people around him have not yet stop talking about it. This organization just gets the value of the customer experience

While Craig Council has done a masterful job this year on the field, navigating through injuries and a pitching staff that is middle of the road, especially from a starting pitcher perspective, he continues to maintain a leadership mentality that people want to follow. You never see him get too high or too low and rarely will you ever see him yelling at a player. One of the things you have to love about the mentality of this team is they have fun and they continue to support one another. This does not occur without a leader who provides room for these type of interactions. A dictator would never create an environment of fun.

Maybe one of the unheralded coaches on the staff is Ryan Braun, while he's been injured and certainly been a main element of the team for years, he's not playing as much when players like Eric Thames and other players are playing more and he continues to support them with a smile and high fives when they come off the field. What would happen to the team's mentality if they're superstar and highest paid player sat in the corner and pouted and complained? This may go back to two things. First when Ryan had some issues years ago the owner, Mark Attanasio did NOT yell and scream at him but talked to him as a father would to a son and shared how he could overcome this difficult time and own the mistakes he had made. The owner did not waive or trade him but stuck by him! WOW, I wish more leaders would do that. Second, the general manager David Stearns seems to be a master of picking “high character” people to join his team. This makes things more fun and palatable to players when they are not playing. This team, without question or exception, has players who ONLY pull for one another.

When I think about their sales and marketing office led by one of the better leaders I've ever met, Jim Bathey, his team every year constantly seeks ways to improve their sales and customer service skills. Their attitudes to practice and really commit themselves to get better are without question one of the most driven sales and customer service teams I have ever met or worked with. These people are second to none. It is no wonder why they are always in the top 10 in attendance, even though their baseball’s smallest market team. Doesn't that make typical organizations wonder? Most organizations will complain about price or being undersold, so how is it the smallest market team in major league baseball is always near the top of attendance? It simply comes back to this team and the leadership and the ability of this team to constantly improve and help one another become the best they can be. Billy Friess is the direct leader of these teams and is constantly searching for new ways to develop staff. Every year Jim lets their team lead and he never undermines their message rather he only supports by attending and even participating. This not only goes to leadership, but it goes to the value of coaching and leading by example.

If you ever want to have a wonderful experience, come to Miller Park and call this number for tickets because these people absolutely are the best at taking care of customers. Call for Ticket Information: (414) 902-4000

Here's a quick example of why Miller Park is so much fun: https://www.mlb.com/brewers/video/must-c-thames-walk-off-homer/c-2344431583?tid=11493214