An Offbeat Way To Manage

The people part of entrepreneurship is hard.  We tend to focus on numbers and on spreadsheets and on engineering sprints.  But, it’s not robots that are doing it.  It’s people.  Entrepreneurship is a huge mental game.   Pro athletics is also like that.  What separates pro golfers from regular scratch golfers at your local club is often just the thing between the ears on their head.

I heard a great story last night and I am not naming names just to keep it anonymous.  I just think it’s an interesting way to look at managing people.  Sometimes, all it takes is an unexpected word or way of talking to them to change the tides.

There was a guy who was a pro baseball pitcher.  He was in spring training and he wasn’t getting anyone out.  But, his mechanics were good.  The velocity on his pitches were good.  His body felt good.  He was doing well off the mound on conditioning and working on things.  He also really loved being a part of the team and he was good in the clubhouse.

But in baseball if you are a pitcher, you have to get guys out.

The press was criticizing him.  Fans were getting down on him and wondering if he would stay with the team. He was feeling a lot of pressure to produce.  Not getting guys out was a burden and he was worried whether he would be staying with the team or not.

One day, his manager came to him and said, “I want to see you in my office.”  This is the death knell in pro sports.  When the boss wants to see you alone, usually you are getting traded or worse, cut.  You might remember the scenes in Bull Durham when the manager has to cut people.  In pro football, they call it meeting the Turk.

The pitcher trudged to the managers office.  Dreading it.  With every step.  He went in and sat down.

The manager looked at him smiled and said, “Hey, you are growing a beard.  Looks good.”

The pitcher was a bit shocked, and said. “Yes.” Waiting for the hammer to fall.

The manager said, “You know, you might want to really grow it out.  Like a pirate or Paul Bunyan.  Might be intimidating on the mound.  What do you think about that?”

The pitcher was taken aback.  All of a sudden the fog lifted and it became clear to him that he wasn’t going to be cut.  He wasn’t going to be given a warning.  He wasn’t going to be lectured on his failures.  He felt relief.  He loosened up.

“Hmm”, he said.  ” You might be right.  We could try that.”

The manager laughed and the pitcher laughed.  Nervous relief laughter.  As the pitcher got up to leave, the manager quickly and quietly said, “Hey, your velocity is good.  You are doing well.  You are a part of this team and I am glad you are here.”

The pitcher started getting guys out and he had a very good season.  Oh, and he had a big bushy beard.