Performance Principles™
September 1, 2004
Back to Basics
Here in St. Louis, we are all excited about the National League Central Champion Cardinals. Mike Matheny, the team’s catcher, was asked this season how he handles a pitcher who gives up a lot of runs early in the game. He said, “We start the game all over in our minds, and go back to basics. We focus on the pitcher’s best pitch, and make sure he is bringing it in low over the plate and throwing strikes. And we go from there.”
Performance Principle: We all hit times in business and in life when our wonderful plans go wrong. In such times, we have to go back to the basics. Focus on the foundational activities that you know will generate success. Forget trying to be fancy. And remember to be patient with yourself.
This means that CEOs need to re-focus their managers on the top 1-2 priorities of the organization. Managers need to check in with people DAILY to measure progress and give feedback. Sales people need to fill their pipeline through outbound calls and kept appointments.
And remember – the Cardinals have the best record in baseball this season, but even they occasionally get clobbered. Handling and recovering from failure is an important competency. Don’t waste time beating yourself up. Go back to the basics, and you will soon be back to your winning ways.
Until next month.
Eric.
All Performance Principles eletters are copyrighted 2008, Eric Herrenkohl, Herrenkohl Consulting. You may copy, reprint or forward each of these newsletters in their entirety so long as any use is not for resale or profit and the following copyright notice is included intact: Copyright 2008, Eric Herrenkohl, Herrenkohl Consulting. All rights reserved. www.herrenkohlconsulting.com, 610-658-9790.