| Baseball Manager Terry Francona's leadership was | | | | to being a leader with substance who is both |
| key to the Red Sox success in sweeping the World | | | | knowledgeable about team competencies and loyal. |
| Series. Separately, reporters Kevin Thomas of The | | | | The respect you get in return will pay off in your |
| Portland Press Herald and Jackie Macmullan of The | | | | team's shared commitment to your common mission. |
| Boston Globe published compelling portrayals of | | | | 5. Be consistent. One of the things that many people |
| Francona. Here are eight essential lessons in leadership | | | | look for in a leader is the ability to be true to a |
| for any situation, illustrated by Francona's winning | | | | course. Terry Francona has said that's a big part of |
| example in their stories. | | | | his job, but at the same time admits that he's not |
| 1. Stay calm. Francona is known for his patient | | | | right all the time. Does this mean you should stay to |
| temperament, even in the face of high stakes | | | | a course when it's clearly wrong? No. It means that |
| games. Players report that the boss's patience helps | | | | changes of course should be the exception, and for a |
| them win. When you're calm, those who work with | | | | good reason, rather than the rule. |
| you, for you and for whom you work can stay cool | | | | 6. Be humble. Francona admits to at times being |
| too. A low key demeanor benefits everybody by | | | | stubborn but recognizes that it was more hindrance |
| keeping them focused on achievement, not drama. | | | | than help. It distracted from the game. It's not about |
| 2. Trust others. Francona uses the elegant strategy | | | | you, it's about team success. Keep reminding yourself |
| of simply allowing his team to play their game, | | | | of that and you will be a better leader. |
| according to players. Mistrust is distracting. With trust, | | | | 7. Honesty is the best policy. We all hate bad news |
| you minimize your subordinates' or teammates' worry | | | | but dishonesty has a way of backfiring. What's more, |
| about letting the team down or being let go. You | | | | saying nothing at all creates uncertainty. Sox players |
| enable them to focus 100% on task, greatly | | | | report that Francona is scrupulously honest with them |
| increasing the odds of success. It's a fact that people | | | | about their performance. And, they like that. If your |
| perform better when they aren't distracted. | | | | team members are guessing, what do you think is |
| By the time a baseball player reaches the major | | | | going through their minds that may be dead wrong? |
| leagues, he's already proven his expertise at | | | | How might that affect their performance? Honest |
| fundamentals. It's foolish (or worse - negligent) to set | | | | communication is best. |
| someone loose in a situation where they need | | | | 8. Follow your instincts. Francona regrets not doing |
| training and assume that trust will work. But when | | | | this early in his career but now reports that he does |
| your team member is ready, trust is the way to go. | | | | what he thinks is right and stays true to himself. |
| 3. Ignore critics. Francona doesn't let naysayers guide | | | | Listen to your intuition. Not rational, it happens "behind |
| his decisions, saying, "I don't ... run to see how I'm | | | | the scenes" in your unconscious mind -- you just |
| perceived." He knows that by being impervious to | | | | know what to do. If you don't, spend more time in |
| criticism, you avoid mood swings that can derail | | | | quiet contemplation, take a break, or sleep on it. |
| performance, setting an example for your team. | | | | Remember, your unique contribution to any team is |
| 4. Pay attention to facts. Just because you ignore | | | | to be yourself! |
| criticism doesn't mean that you should be deaf and | | | | The eight essential leadership lessons that Terry |
| blind to reality. Francona knows that fans only see | | | | Francona offers will keep you on track to lead your |
| part of the story during actual games. He, on the | | | | team to greater success. They require you to |
| other hand, sees how players perform in practice. | | | | develop your own style and self confidence, not |
| Likewise, it's important for you to have a holistic | | | | necessarily a quick or easy undertaking but one well |
| view of your team members' performance at | | | | worth your effort. |
| different times and in different situations. This speaks | | | | |