Leadership Lessons from the DugOut
from the ball field to the board room
Category: Uncategorized
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At nearly every level of sport, standout performers are easy to identify. They are often more physically gifted than their peers, and it shows quickly—both in practice and in games. Sometimes it’s raw athleticism; other times it’s skill, instincts, or confidence. They may throw harder, hit farther, or field more cleanly, but one way or…
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That’s how we’ve always done it!” As a young player and an always learning coach, I specialized in catching. When I transitioned into coaching, I naturally began working with catchers—a role I still enjoy today. At the time, we were taught a very specific way to position our bodies depending on the situation. There were…
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One of the clearest truths in baseball and softball—especially when it comes to hitting—is that failure is inevitable. Even at the highest levels of the game, success is measured differently. If a Major League Baseball player gets a hit in just one out of every three at-bats, he’s considered elite—Hall of Fame worthy, even. In…
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One of my favorite saying when working with a young hitter is, “Swing hard in case you hit it.” It’s a light-hearted phrase that gets a laugh, but it also carries a deeper truth. I’ve worked with young players for years, and one common habit I notice—especially among those just learning to hit—is the tendency…
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Mike Tyson once said, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.” As blunt as it sounds, there’s truth in that statement—especially for coaches and leaders. Planning is essential. But adaptability is what separates those who lead well under pressure from those who simply hope for ideal conditions. Every coach, manager, or…
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In both baseball and the professional world, the amount of data available to us has grown tremendously. Metrics, analytics, dashboards, and reports offer insights into everything from performance trends to individual behaviors. For coaches, players, people managers, and business leaders, this data can be incredibly useful, but also overwhelming—and it’s not always definitive. The real…
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Effective leadership—in both sports and business, —requires more than understanding the overall dynamics of a group. It demands the ability to recognize and adapt to the unique needs, personalities, and motivations of each individual. Just as every team has its own collective identity, every person on that team brings their own background, communication style, and…
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It may seem obvious that coaching a group of 5-year-olds requires a different approach than coaching 18-year-olds. But over time, I’ve come to understand that tailoring your approach to the team goes far beyond age or experience level. Whether in youth baseball or the corporate world, every team has its own unique personality—and great leaders…
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In today’s competitive environments—whether in youth sports or professional workplaces—leaders must thoughtfully construct their teams with a balance of versatility and deep expertise. In baseball, this often means having a mix of players who can do a bit of everything and those who focus their energy on excelling in one specific role. The same holds…
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Great leaders—whether on the baseball field or in the business world—needs a trusted voice. This is someone on your team who feels confident enough to tell you the truth, even when it’s not what you want to hear.. In sports, that trusted voice can be the difference between making the right call and missing something…
Leadership Lessons from the DugOut 