Since 1996 I have either played or coached professional baseball. There was a two-year hiatus from 2004-2005 when I worked solely in the business world, but beyond that I have committed the last 23 years of my life to the game. My priorities (Faith,  Family, Field) have changed over the years, but two things that have been a constant is my faith in the Lord and that I am more successful when I collaborate with others who are like-minded.

If you ask anyone who has spent a significant amount of time with me, they will tell you that I am passionate about baseball and that I work tirelessly to be great at it. I am into the small details, and I look for ways to gain an edge on our opposition. I want to expose their weakness and impose our will upon them. When it comes down to it, I want to WIN by any means necessary that is fair and right. If it means I need to spend more time and stay late at the ballpark, then that’s what I do.

I really don’t want to do someone else’s job, but if after multiple conversations they aren’t getting the work done that I want them to, I do it when they are not around. If I take their advice multiple times against my own judgement and things don’t work out, I lose trust in them. It doesn’t make for a healthy work environment, and I need to do a better job of developing coaches instead of just delegating jobs to them because I think they can do it. We need to be working together to maximize our success.

Being in Harmony versus Unison

I think I am an amazing singer, mostly because I sound awesome in the shower, but my family disagrees. I have never taken a class, but I do know there is a difference in ways that people sing together. When you are in unison it means you are singing the same note at the same time.  When two or more people sing multiple notes in the same key, that’s harmony. Both are equally important depending on the situation, but very different.

Let’s take this point to working with others. We all have different giftings, so if we were all the same, it would be hard to get something accomplished much less be successful. Having the same mindset and goal is important (unison), but I believe we can achieve more when we acknowledge everyone’s defined role. We have different positions on a team and when our efforts compliment one another instead of conflict we are in harmony.

Utilize the “4 D’s”

I received one of my greatest gifts in 2010 on Father’s Day. My wife Taleen gave me the John Maxwell Leadership Bible and I have been reading it almost every day since. It is filled with great leadership principles and one day I came across the Three “D’s” of Task Orientation. They are Dump, Delegate, and Develop. Basically, the first one is easy. If you don’t want to deal with something, you dump it on someone else. When you delegate a task to someone you do it because you believe they are good at it. The problem with that is if they don’t do the job, you expect them to it’s really your fault not theirs. 

The last “D” is develop, and that’s when you spend time with the person and show them how you want the task done that you delegated to them. I need to do a better job of this. I added a 4^th “D” which is disciple. That’s when I ask the person I am working with permission if they would be willing to learn more about Jesus Christ when I am developing them. That my friends is an example of the Great Commission. Helping others learn more about my Lord and Savior.

When it comes down to it, we can accomplish more when we are working together. Setting expectations, defining roles, and constant communication are all important attributes that leaders should strive to possess. I encourage you to be a servant leader to those entrusted to you and find ways to bring out the best in them.

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

• Do I have my priorities in life lined up with the teachings of Jesus?
• Am I approachable in the workplace and at home?
• Does my team at work understand what their defined role is?
• Do I strive for harmony in the workplace?

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