By Jeff Whitaker
When you hit a crisis moment, how do you know what to shift and where to make the shift? If you follow major league baseball, you know that the Phillies are in what many might call a crisis moment right now. Let’s put it this way. Where they find themselves at this point in the season is no where near where they thought they would be. So, what to do? What kind of changes need to come, tough decisions to be made? Where do you start? You know where that all falls? It falls on the leadership of the team from the front office on down to the dugout.
It’s all about Leadership. You can’t hear it enough. Everything rises and falls on leadership. Whether we are talking baseball or the board room, so much of what happens and doesn’t happen in an organization comes down to that one truth. And here’s the thing, it’s not all cut and dry either. When you consider the situation the Phillies find themselves in, it can be quite a challenge. They had every intention that things were going to head in a certain direction this season and what happened? Unexpected injuries occur; unmet expectations by some of the players. And the actions or injuries of one player have ripple effects down the line on the entire team. It’s the same in business. That’s why it’s important that leadership be nimble, one step ahead of the game, always seeing what others don’t see. If you are in leadership in a company or even within your family, you need to have a kind of 360 sky-high view of things.
But the question is how do you prepare for the unexpected? How do you as a leader make sure you are doing all the right things for your organization and your team? This past winter, my mentor John Maxwell came out with his latest book called Leadershift. In the book, Dr. Maxwell addresses all of this head on. He outlines 11 steps a leader must take in order to be who he or she needs to be. He addresses key “shifts” that need to take place mentally, on paper, in strategy and planning. The reality is as a leader, you need to be one step ahead of your competition. You need to be forward thinking in every area. Whether it’s on the baseball diamond, in the corporate boardroom, or in our homes, being ready to make necessary shifts is essential to winning with any team; sports, business and family. What shifts do you need to consider to keep your team on track?
Jeff Whitaker is a lifelong communicator and storyteller. He is a certified trainer, coach and speaker with The John Maxwell Team. Jeff’s goal is to encourage excellence in individuals and corporations through leadership and communications training. Connect with him at jeffwhitaker.com, through The Jeff Whitaker Company on Facebook or @jeffwhitaker on Twitter.
