Friday, October 23, 2009

Knowing Your Role

This week's blog comes from my business partner, Tom Charno. He suggested the title after watching the fourth game of the National League Championship Series. As you probably know, the Phillies won their second National League Championship on Wednesday and are going back to the World Series. We saw the Phils play three games this week. While games three and five were blowouts (nonetheless enjoyable), game four was one for the ages. For an excellent historical perspective, read Jason Stark's article on ESPN.com. In that game, Jimmy Rollins, the Phillies shortstop, hit a triple in the gap toward right field to score Eric Bruntlett and Carlos Ruiz. Bruntlett was pinch-running for Matt Stairs who drew a walk pinch hitting for Pedro Feliz. Rollins was the hero, but the win spoke as much about the other three players, Stairs, Ruiz and Bruntlett.

Players who don't start and come off the bench are often called role players. In the case of Bruntlett and Stairs, they know their role is to pinch hit (Stairs) or pinch run or play the field (Bruntlett). They have no expectations of starting and must be ready at all times to come off the bench and perform. On Monday night, they did just that. Matt Stairs coaxed a walk off the Dodgers pitcher to get on base with one out. Carlos Ruiz, the starting catcher who morphs into "Senor Octubre" in the playoffs got hit by a pitch. Greg Dobbs, another pinch hitting role player, lined out to third for the second out. Two on, two out and Jimmy Rollins performs his magic, Bruntlett and Ruiz score. Phillies Win! A great game won by Rollins' hit but made possible by the role players. A true team effort.

How about your organization? Do you have role players? Do you have team members who know the reason they're in the organization and perform their duties without complaint and at a high level? For an organization to succeed, they need to have a vision and leaders who motivate their team to execute toward that vision. The daily execution is performed by role players who understand what they need to do day in and day out. Often this is called "blocking and tackling" because of the fundamental aspect of the job. Leaders were once role players who performed well and rose in the company. Some make careers out of being role players. No shame at all in that. In fact, some of the finest people I've worked with take pride in performing their role and being an important part of the company.

Does your organization have role players? Do they know their role? If not, make it a point to explain their value, what they need to do, and give them the tools to perform their best every day!

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