From approximately mid-February to late March each year, Major League Baseball (MLB) teams set up camps to prepare for the upcoming season in either Arizona or Florida. About forty years ago, I spent some time in Arizona to watch the MLB teams participate in pre-season games in the “Cactus League.” At last, during the past week, I spent some time on the Gulf Coast of Florida watching the Atlanta Braves participate in pre-season games known as the “Grapefruit League.” Spring Training is a hopeful time for all MLB teams. Since the games in the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues do not count toward the teams’ regular season record, all teams are optimistic for a good season this time of the year. MLB teams work on a number of things during Spring Training to try to bring that optimism to fruition. In today’s column, I will discuss some of the more important aspects of Spring Training that if done correctly can lead to a successful season but can also be applied by businesses year-round to enhance their success.
Aspect #1: Evaluate and Choose Your Team Members
One of the most important aspects of both Spring Training and running a business is evaluating and selecting your team members and being sure you put them in their best positions. During Spring Training, major league teams, similar to businesses, are putting a team together using incumbents who have been on the team previously, “veterans” who have experience with other teams (other businesses), or “rookies” who are embarking on their new career at a higher level than they have ever worked before. For MLB teams, their incumbents and veterans are more known quantities and can be more easily placed in positions where they can help the team the most. However, Spring Training is also a good time to experiment with potential position changes and/or tweaking player roles for those who are more experienced. However, it is also a time to see if younger, less experienced players with potential are ready for big roles. It is the job of the team manager and coaches to make sure their players understand these roles and are coalesced into a smoothly functioning team.
Similarly, throughout the year, a business should regularly evaluate its incumbent employees and determine what additional talent is needed to improve its performance. The business should also decide the type of talent it needs, either experienced veterans to shore up weak areas or talented and energetic rookies who can give the business a needed spark. For all MLB teams and most businesses, its most important strategic asset is its people, so evaluating and selecting the people to be on the “team” is critical as is the next aspect….
Aspect #2: Use Teamwork to “Make the Dream Work”
Once you have your “players” selected, it is time to bring them together to make sure everyone is on the same page and working toward the same goals. During Spring Training, this task is primarily that of the on-field manager along with his coaching staff. Typically, at both the start of Spring Training and then at its conclusion as the team is about to embark on its regular season, the manager holds meetings to discuss the team’s expectations and goals, how it will define success, what the team norms, and how the team will work together. The manager will then use the remainder of Spring Training to reinforce these goals and norms and the incumbents and other veteran players will be expected to be role models for the younger players, the rookies in particular. Similarly, in business, driving how the team will work starts with the leadership, but the expectation is that other managers and long-term employees should model the standard of the organization. For both MLB teams and businesses, it is critical that these teamwork standards are ongoing throughout the year, not only when it is highlighted, such as in Spring Training.
Aspect #3: Work on Fundamentals
One other key aspect of MLB Spring Training is that teams are constantly working on the fundamentals of baseball. Not just during the Spring Training pre-season games, but also before games and during non-game days, they are working on various drills. For pitchers, this includes working on holding runners close to bases and covering first base on grounders to the right side of the infield. For catchers, it includes blocking balls in the dirt and throwing out potential runners. For infielders, it is turning double plays while outfielders practice hitting cut-off men on throws to the infield. Hitters are working on bunting, moving runners over, and running the bases. Similarly, those in our businesses should also regularly be working on the fundamentals. Sales reps need to know their product lines and their sales skills. Operations and supply chain managers need to regularly evaluate their processes and attention to quality. All employees should have professional development and continuous training to do their jobs better.
In MLB, Spring Training provides a dedicated time to evaluate and select a roster, build the team’s ethos, and work on fundamentals. In business, we do not have a set time of the year to do these things; rather, we need to work on them all throughout the year to put ourselves in a position for a successful “season.”
