25 Aug Learning From a Crisis – Baseball Style
So much is just different this summer but it’s not all bad. We’re still playing baseball in August! Well, Aidan, my son, is. That does come with a price though, it’s HOT!! As I watch Aidan make his thirteenth strike out (yes that happened, proud dad moment 😊), I reflect on what he can learn going through a crisis, like the one we are all living through now. Of course, with a teenager, learning it “baseball style” gives any lesson a greater chance of being listened to.
Always have a Plan B (and C and D…). We are all still grappling with the curveballs of 2020 and will be for some time. Those things that have “always worked” sometimes need to be reassessed and you can’t be afraid to try new things. If they are hitting the fast ball, throw the change up. If the umpire isn’t calling the outside pitch, throw it inside. We’ve had a lot of great conversations about switching things up, seeing how they go and then switching them up again if we need to.
Leaders need to step up. When a crisis occurs, people need to see confidence, resilience, and grace under pressure. When your team is down by 8 runs after the 1st inning, you can’t panic and retreat into the corner and give up. You need to remind everyone that there’s still a lot of baseball to play. You need to be determined and show that you still have an opportunity to make this a game. And maybe even pull off an upset!
Hold yourself and your team accountable. When under pressure or in times of stress, people often agree to make changes or promises but then later fail to follow through on these commitments. It’s easy in teen sports (and life) to say, “I won’t hold you accountable if you don’t hold me accountable.” However, when accountability fails, the team won’t be able to respond to the changes brought on by adversity.
Give it everything you’ve got. You get nothing from giving up or not giving your all because you’re hot or tired. You can’t let your body convince your mind that you have nothing left to contribute for that day. Drink lots of water, play smart, give all you have! That day when you’re exhausted but able to push through, will say a lot about who you are. The easy thing to do is give up but you need to see this as an opportunity to show true character, you’ll be proud of yourself even for just trying.
As I’ve said before, love the game! Crisis breeds opportunity. When things don’t go your way, when the chips are down, by continuing to play the game you give yourself a chance to not only have fun but to provide a moment that you will remember forever!
Brett Lawson
Founder & CEO
The CFO Suite, LLC