Thousands, perhaps millions of words have been written over the years about George Steinbrenner, the owner of the New York Yankees who died earlier this week. His tenure was colorful and controversial, to say the least. Among the lasting memories that many have of him was his penchant for micro-managing the team during the early years of his ownership. He was known for replacing managers as often as a traffic light changes colors if the team wasn’t winning. (At one stage he hired and fired 20 managers in 23 years!) In fact, I think that particular tendency relates to both an overlooked quality he possessed and one of his best qualities.
The overlooked quality is that Steinbrenner learned from his mistakes. Toward the end of his 37-year reign, even before his health issues shifted the operational decision-making authority to his executive team, he interfered much less with the running of the organization. He discovered the importance of allowing the professionals he hired to be left alone to do what they were hired to do. They answered to him for their performance in no uncertain terms, but as time went on he tinkered less and less with the numerous peripheral decisions that went into running the ballclub.
One of his best qualities, I think, was his insistence on winning. Now some who read this will blanch at that statement, offering the “winning isn’t everything” view. If that’s your mind set, then I’d ask you to think of it this way: insert your preferred bottom line for “winning ballgames.” Perhaps you believe that facilitating the activity of people of character is the ultimate outcome. Maybe it’s winning people to Christ. It might be running a business with integrity or profitability. Fill in the blank. My point is that George was the leader, he established a well-defined vision of success, and he let nothing stand in his way in order to achieve it.
When Steinbrenner bought the team, it was in disrepair: they had not won a championship in 11 years and had lost the competitive fire that had made the Yankees baseball’s most storied franchise. Steinbrenner bought the team from CBS for $8.7 million in 1973. Today, that same team is worth $1.6 billion. There are various reasons for that explosion of value, but the most significant is that he had a clear and compelling vision and he put all of his resources behind it. During his 37-year era the Yankees won 16 division titles, 11 pennants and 7 world championships. Did he do it with the same style you or I would recommend? Probably not. But you cannot help but be struck by the impact of a single-minded quest to make a vision come to pass. Style is negotiable; vision is not.
I believe it is possible to learn something from every leader you observe, whether they are tremendous, awful or somewhere in-between. The Steinbrenner years provide a library of lessons on leadership, but I think none of those lessons shouts for attention as loudly as the importance of a clear vision and the passion to enforce it.
How does Steinbrenner’s single-mindedness about something that is arguably insignificant – professional athletes winning baseball games – compare to your vision and commitment related to ministry? Without that vision as the centerpiece of his reign, the Yankees would have been just another team with a wealthy, loudmouthed, often obnoxious owner. A compelling vision changes everything. What’s your story?
July 16, 2010
How does Steinbrenner’s single-mindedness about something that is arguably insignificant – professional athletes winning baseball games – compare to your vision and commitment related to ministry?
Psalms 119: 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. (Hint: Jesus at 12 vs the Jewish clergy)
2 Timothy 2: 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
James 1: 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
James 1: 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
James 1: 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
James 1: 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
SP>SP
Singleness of purpose >>spiritual perception
Failure comes when the thorns, cares of this life, choke out the word. Some call them competing interests.
Idolatry or spiritual adultery is the symptom of one who is losing the personal battle against the carnal/fleshly nature. If a pastor can’t sense the victory, how can he share this with his audience.
Another factor for disappointed or verbally abusive pastors to consider:
Pastors are like traveling salesmen.
Laity are like satisfied customers.
Pastors get paid to be good.
Laity are good for nothing.
August 17, 2010
I suppose comparing baseball leadership to church leadership is similar in todays model from the standpoint of putting butts in seats for the purpose of paying the bills. Perhaps both could take a lesson from the Head of the Church in that selflessness applies in both instances. It is a given that the whole is greater than it’s individual parts. Individuals within the whole sacrificing personal gain and glory for the sake of fulfilling their role within the whole is to be desired and attempted to be attained. It is consistant throughout the N.T. in Jesus teachings as well as His example through the entire Bible. There needs to be a culture in the Ekklesia of laying down a sacrificing bunt to advance a teamate for the good of the whole, lowering your batting average. The hitting of a long sacrifice fly, to score a teamate for the good of the whole, even though it lowers your batting average. Jesus drilled home the truth of the first qualification of a leader as being the least, the last, the lowest, the servant of all.Afterall the Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Teacher, Elder/Shepherd, are to be equiping the Saints to do the work of the ministry, not doing it themselves. The sole role is sacrificing their life for the Church, building up the Body, edifying it, being an example. A mother asked Jesus to put her sons at His right and left hand in Heaven. Jesus responded by saying, are you sure, do you really know what you are asking? Can they drink the cup I am to drink? Jesus teaching His Disciples said observe the World system, how they lord it over one another. It shall not be so amongst you. The distinguishing mark of a follower of me is that they will love one another. A love so complete and unselfish that it will draw men like a moth to a flame and build community like no other. He said, “If any man wants to be My follower you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow Me. If you keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for My sake and for the sake of the Gospel, you will find true life.”
His last meal He took off His outer clothes and took a bowl of water and washed all of the Disciples feet. Some didn’t want Him too. He said you must allow me too. Later He willingly gave his body and took our place in sacrifice for us all, giving all. Nothing short of this is expected of a leader, or a disciple also. True Leaders are the most self sacrificing individuals on the team (family). The most humble servant daily day in and day out. It has nothing to do with eloquent speech or sermon delivery. I want to know can you lay down a bunt and get thrown out at first to advance the runner? When it ruins your average and your pay is tied to your average. Can you be just an equal among equals encouraging another instead of promoting your ministry. Do you do the right thing at great cost to you individually?