As I write this I am gearing up for my son’s baseball season. I volunteered to be an assistant coach, but ended up becoming the head coach. Fortunately these are nine and ten year old kids who I can’t mess up too bad. (My baseball career was not very long as a child)
Quite honestly my greatest concern is teaching them how to pitch which is not my area of expertise. As I think about baseball I see a parallel to leadership. Those more familiar with baseball may see many more than these I mention.
Catching
When I helped my sons learn how to catch a ball I would be excited if they caught one. The real challenge was when they threw the ball back to me. I had to move all over the place to catch what they were throwing. 
As leaders we are in catching mode. Our door is open and an employee enters with a new challenge. We check our e-mail at the end of the day to see we must deal with an unexpected issue before heading home. Similar to chasing a five-year old’s throws, we have to adjust rapidly to catch the problems that come our way.
This is part of leadership, but if we are not careful we end up only catching and reacting. We can fall into squeaky wheel leadership if we are not wise. What can we do to counteract this?
Throwing
Just like catching a five-year old’s throw can be an adventure so can teaching him or her to throw. I remember teaching a three-step process: scarecrow, step, throw. This was a very intentional directed plan. When they followed it the ball was on target otherwise . . watch out!
The biggest determinant of accuracy throwing was where they focused their eyes. Leadership is no different. As the day, week, or month begins are you aiming at a clear target? Do you have a plan for how you will be proactive and get ahead of problems?
As leaders we initiate the “throw” to keep the ball moving in the direction of our goal. The first step in accurate leadership throwing is knowing where you want to go. Just as the eyes direct the throw, our vision directs the organization or team we lead. Do you have a clear vision so you can make accurate throws?
Fielding
This is beyond my baseball coaching expertise, but there are times we shift the players in the field. Maybe there is a left-handed batter so we have to shift the outfielders and possibly some infielders. As a leader fielding is strategy.
Challenges come that we catch and deal with. Vision guides our offensive direction of the organization or team. Fielding is when we reorganize our team or adjust our strategy to the unforeseen. This is how we position ourselves to catch and throw in a way that keeps us on top.
How are you doing as a leader in these three areas? Do you have a clear vision? Are you positioned well to proactively address problems? Maybe you need someone to help you think into your vision or strategy as an individual or with your team. If so, contact me for a thirty-minute thinking partner session at no cost to you. Keep playing the game well and lead well.
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