Missed Chances: The Cost of 'Striking Out Looking' in Business
Dennis Mellen
Leadership Expert, Speaker, Best-selling Author, Coach, Workshops, Keynote Speaker. (Ret) AF LtCol. Powering Teams for Peak Performance. Close the Performance Gap through Positive Leadership by Improving Team Culture.
Have you ever been stuck on a challenging project, exam, or assignment? Did you give it your all, or did you let the opportunity slip away? Missing that moment can impact your performance and leave you wondering what could’ve been.
In Major League Baseball, fans track a pitcher’s strikeouts by hanging "K" signs for each one—it's shorthand for a strikeout. A backwards “?”symbolizes a batter being called out without swinging, just watching the ball sail by. It’s the ultimate missed opportunity, as the batter walks back to the dugout, reflecting on the chance that got away.
Baseball offers countless lessons for business. We talk about “hitting it out of the park,” “taking our swings,” and “touching all the bases.” But when it comes to leadership, let’s focus on “striking out looking”—that backward “?”. It’s a metaphor for missing opportunities because we weren’t ready, didn’t see it coming, or failed to act in time.
As a leader, your job is to foster a culture where your team isn’t just watching from the sidelines, but actively searching for opportunities to step up. This means encouraging open communication, sharing information, and exploring new ideas. But how do we measure team engagement? How do we gauge a positive culture?
You can measure engagement by how freely team members exchange information and trust each other. In baseball, a player prepares by knowing the pitcher’s patterns and strategies through scouting reports and communication with teammates. Similarly, in business, success requires keeping up with market trends, innovations, and staying connected with peers. It’s not enough to have processes in place—you need a team that’s informed, engaged, and ready to seize the next opportunity.
A healthy team culture thrives on positive, productive conversations. When team members feel safe to take risks, make mistakes, and share ideas openly, your company is better equipped to face challenges head-on. Research shows that disengaged employees cost businesses about 18% of their salary—$18K for every $100K. That’s money you could reinvest into your company’s growth.
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As a leader, you’re the most important driver of your organization’s success. In baseball, even if you swing and miss, you know you gave it your best shot using all available resources. It’s better than letting a great opportunity pass by without swinging at all. So, step up to the plate and SWING AWAY!
Want to learn more about building engaged teams and driving elite performance? Let’s connect your company culture with your vision to boost engagement and profit.
Dennis Mellen
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