Page 1 2
3
But can the principles of success in the sometimes surreal
world of major league baseball, or big-time sports in general,
translate to the offices and boardrooms of corporate
America? Schuerholz thinks they can, if you go beyond some
of the obvious differences such as how the rank and file – the
players – make many times the money of their bosses on
and off the field. "The fact of the matter is that if you have
good management principles, that shouldn’t matter," said the
GM. "What’s at issue is the vision you create, the game plan
you put in place...the consistency you have, the way you treat
people, the people you surround yourself with...those are
the important issues that allow you to be successful."
Leadership Style
Schuerholz noted that although there are many basic leadership
principles, styles of leadership can differ. When asked
about Cox, with his low-key style as compared to Pat Riley,
the highly charged motivational leader of the NBA champion
Miami Heat, or Vince Lombardi, the dictatorial ruler of the
Green Bay Packers dynasty, Schuerholz cited one common
factor: the mutual respect each shared with the athletes they
coached. It proves there is no one style of leadership that is
best. "It’s just like there’s not necessarily one style of music
to enjoy," said the GM.
While surrounding yourself with the best people both on
and off the field is key, occasionally one slips under the
radar. John Rocker was that one for the Braves. "He had
an arm like a cannon and a head like a cannonball," said
Schuerholz in his book on winning. Rocker’s derogatory
statements in Sports Illustrated about the ethnic, sexual, and
social persuasions of those riding New York’s No. 7 train
set off a firestorm of criticism, not only of Rocker but of
the Braves organization. Using his principles of crisis management
– keeping calm and confident, void of displaying
panic, communicating clearly how the situation was to be
handled – Schuerholz was able to minimize the impact. He
and team president Stan Kasten were even able to convince
Rocker to pen an apology on the front page of the Atlanta
Journal-Constitution. Schuerholz and Kasten also met with
representatives of offended groups. Despite these efforts,
Rocker remained an unsettling influence in the dugout and
was traded to Cleveland. For Rocker the story ended sadly, as
he was never able to rejuvenate his career. The Braves and
Schuerholz meanwhile were lauded by the Wall Street Journal
for the way they managed the organization through a crisis.
Fitting In
Could Barry Bonds have been spared his current difficulties?
Bonds, according to Schuerholz, was a Brave for one day back
in 1992 and would have remained such had Pittsburgh not
reneged on the deal the day after it was made. It will never
be known if, as a Brave, Bonds would have avoided becoming
the focal point for the steroid abuse controversy swirling
around major league baseball.
Continued on next page
 Previous Page | Top |
Next Page 
|
