On Wednesday night, the umpires in the World Series gave the business world a lesson in quality. If a call is the right call, it’s the right call. The call was new, upset some people and could still have repercussions but the spirit of the call was spot on. The umps did what all entrepreneurs should do and here is what I learned from the call.
Confer with your colleagues
This sometimes is a double-edged sword, but I find that even when the advice is not on the mark it’s still worth hearing. It’s worth knowing that there is another perspective. It is definitely worth your time to find people who will ask you the tough questions to get you to make the right call.
Stick to the facts
These umpires did something that as entrepreneurs we should do every day. In a very emotionally heated situation, they stuck to the facts. There was no entry into the glove, so there was no out. The umpires did not guess, they did not pose hypotheticals. The ball didn’t enter the glove and that was it, no out. In business we often find ourselves in heated moments, where logic can quickly fly out the window. The key to our success is to take a cue from these umpires and stick to the facts.
Accept that not everyone will love your decision
Not everyone is in love with the decision these umpires made, but the umpires continue to stand behind their call. Why? Because they agreed collectively that it was the right call. When you encounter business situations that are in a gray area, once you make a choice don’t flounder. Make a choice that you can defend and that can stand on its own merits. Then you will know that you have made the best choice for you.
If business is like a ball game, then the answer to winning lies in your strategy. Strategy is what makes your business a success and like the World Series the better you are, the harder the calls.
