“People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.” - Rogers Hornsby
Baseball Hall of Famer, Rogers Hornsby, has been called by many the greatest right-handed hitter. Staring out the window, he wasn’t seeing what he was looking at. He envisioned himself at home plate feeling the weight of the bat while focused intently on the opposing pitcher. Upon hearing the crack of the bat he connects with the satisfaction of the hit.
To everything there is a season, a right time for everything. Avid fans enjoy the variety of many sports seasons. This pandemic has introduced us to a period of grieving that we are not accustomed to. Not only do we grieve the loss of lives but also a way of living. It is healthy to grieve. Loss of any kind is reason enough for one to feel sad or even depressed.
For many of us, sports is a big part of enjoying life. We are now faced with no longer feeling a connection to our home team. We miss the excitement and awe that comes from witnessing fantastic athletic expertise. We miss the high fives and collective roar. We miss the camaraderie that comes with the joy of winning and agony of defeat. We miss the start of a season and all the possibilities it holds for each and every athlete and team.
When the Rules of the Game Change
This is not the right time for sports… we must stare out the window and wait.
In this time where we greet every day with a “new normal” what are you envisioning when you stare out of the window.
The pandemic has challenged all of us with balancing the need for our physical and economic well-being. Many leaders have or are contemplating how they safely open their doors for business.
A leader needs to help others anticipate what the future holds while communicating the reality of today. Leadership requires a clear vision of both the nearsighted and farsighted view. It requires a clear vision of what is important and what you value.
The pandemic has heightened what has always been the challenge of leadership, which is one of both awareness and action. A leader’s responsibility is to ensure the long-term viability of the business by taking conscious and informed action in the short-term.
Here are four questions to consider that will provide guidance in leading your business with clear vision for both the short-term and long-term.
What must you honor?
Where must you be cautious?
What is it time to eliminate?
Where do you need to invest?
● Honor your customers and employees. Demonstrate your appreciation for your customers and employees. Ensure that the products and services that you are providing align with your values and purpose.
● Be cautious about chasing the money. Short-term financial pressures can cause one to say yes to opportunities for immediate benefit without considering long-term implications.
● Eliminate potential distractions. There comes a time when we create addition by subtraction. We have limited time, energy, and money in the short-term. Let’s spend them wisely.
● Fund your future by investing in your mission. Invest in people, technology, infrastructure for the long-term health of your business. Be aware of what could become tomorrow’s problem without investment.
So, as we stare out the window, clear vision is both seeing what is right in front of us while also seeing the field of dreams. And the only way we create the dream in the long-term is to understand the narrative in the short-term. Choose a clear vision for what can be by knowing what is.
Comments