October 17, 2023
by Stephen T. Messenger
You are the biggest advocate for your people. Period. Often we get wrapped up in our work being all about us. Our careers. Our successes. Our promotions.
Leading truly has nothing to do with that. It has everything to do with celebrating organizational success and lifting others up.
The Two Shirts
I will freely admit that I’m focused on baseball with the playoffs in full swing. It’s amazing what you can observe by watching successful teams from afar and apply it to how you act.
Ronald Acuna Jr., Atlanta Braves right fielder and presumptive MVP for the National League, rolled into a press conference proudly wearing a shirt with his season’s successes, and rightly so. He had a record-breaking year, becoming the first player in Major League Baseball history to hit at least 40 home runs and steal 70 bases. Incredible!
On the other side of the coin, Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies first baseman and leader of their team, rolled into a similar press conference proudly wearing a shirt with one of his teammates on it: shortstop Trea Turner. Interesting.
Both these athletes are superstars. Both have carried their teams to the playoffs and both deserve the credit for organizational success. Yet one is highlighting his personal accomplishments while the other is highlighting someone else on his team.
Remain in the Background
If you look at the front of a U.S. Army uniform, you’ll see two name tapes. One is the soldier’s last name sewn on the right side of the uniform. The U.S. Army name tape is sewn on the left. I’ve been told—but unable to validate—tradition places the U.S Army over one’s heart, hence it being on that side.
When talking leadership while wearing that uniform, I routinely reference that it’s the left side of the uniform that matters—U.S. Army—while the right side doesn’t. The Army is not about personal accolades, but team success.
One of my favorite quotes from Prussian Field Marshall Alfred von Schlieffen to his staff officers is: “Work relentlessly, accomplish much, remain in the background, and be more than you seem.” Working in the background and lifting others up is key to team cohesion. It’s not about you—it’s about everyone else!
It’s amazing what can happen when no one cares who gets the credit.
We Learn by Example
Again, it’s interesting that Bryce Harper would wear someone else’s t-shirt. Perhaps he learned some of this by seeing the wrong way others build teams.
In 2015, baseball reliever Jonathan Papelbon left the struggling Phillies in 2015, blaming the failures of the team on everyone but himself, from the owner to the bat boy.
He joined the Washington Nationals where Harper was on his way to winning the MVP title for the National League. Papelbon, at 34 and 12 years older than Harper, was the supposed team leader.
After Harper hit a lazy fly ball and didn’t run it out, Papelbon jawed at him as he returned to the dugout. It escalated into a dugout fight with Papelbon grabbing Harper by the throat before they were pulled apart. Perhaps not the best way to build teams.
The Nationals suspended Papelbon for the next four games, and he didn’t return to baseball the following year.
Highlighting the Other Guy
Back to the military. Commanders of units are responsible for everything their unit does or fails to do. When something bad happens, they are charged to take accountability for it, not passing the buck down the chain of command. When something good happens, they are trained to immediately highlight the people who made that achievement.
Leaders lift others up. It’s by providing coaching, counseling, mentorship, motivation, purpose, and direction. It’s by taking accountability when things go wrong and celebrating others when things go right.
I’m not sure Ronald Acuna Jr., just 25 years old, understands this yet. After losing the Phillies-Braves playoff series last week and going 2 for 14 at the plate, he left during post-game interviews, slinking onto the bus with no comments.
While other Braves were with the press accepting responsibility for the loss, Acuna snuck out the back.
Meanwhile, Bryce Harper in his post-game interview after Game 3 highlighted the Braves as an exceptional opponent while complimenting their all-stars, celebrated the Philadelphia fans for their raucous role, and praised his teammates while mostly ignoring his own accomplishments.
Wear Someone Else’s Shirt
Bottom line: Wear your own proverbial shirt less. Wear your teammates’ proverbial shirt more.
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