Leadership and the Red Sox
Last week was Leadership 101 in action for the Boston Red Sox. For those of you don't know, the General Manager, Theo Esptein, resigned from his position the day his contract ran out.
Why was this big news? The whole Red Sox Nation believed that Theo would sign a new contract. No one thought he wouldn't being, the hometown boy and having his dream job.
Yet in the end Theo did surprise everyone, including himself, I think when he resigned.
How did this become a leadership week in Boston? John Henry, the CEO of the Boston Red Sox made it one. At the press conference Henry made it perfectly clear that he owned the responsibility for Theo not being resigned. And when asked he said "I blew it. There are many things I could have done differently so that Theo was still with us."
In addition, Henry took the heat for his President and COO, Larry Luccino, who was noticeably absent from the press conference. Henry said that he asked Larry not to attend the press conference. Talk about taking accountability for the actions of his team.
It was a good day for leadership. It also was a good day because Epstein showed his character and integrity that we all had come to admire one last time. He did not bash anyone. He did not blame anyone. He kept that to himself and obviously asked and got the agreement from Henry that why he resigned would stay within the confines of Red Sox management.
It was a shock to Red Sox fans and the sports writers to lose Theo Epstein. It was humbling to see Epstein stick by his morale compass and not be badgered by the press for "the answer". Esptein knew that the press wanted to blame someone. Boston is very good at the blame game unfortunately. But that's another story.
My best to Theo and may the Red Sox learn a lesson from this debacle. May the Red Sox apply what they have learned. That will be the real test of leadership. Have they learned from their mistakes and made things better? Only time will tell.
Barb .... The Leadership Lady
Why was this big news? The whole Red Sox Nation believed that Theo would sign a new contract. No one thought he wouldn't being, the hometown boy and having his dream job.
Yet in the end Theo did surprise everyone, including himself, I think when he resigned.
How did this become a leadership week in Boston? John Henry, the CEO of the Boston Red Sox made it one. At the press conference Henry made it perfectly clear that he owned the responsibility for Theo not being resigned. And when asked he said "I blew it. There are many things I could have done differently so that Theo was still with us."
In addition, Henry took the heat for his President and COO, Larry Luccino, who was noticeably absent from the press conference. Henry said that he asked Larry not to attend the press conference. Talk about taking accountability for the actions of his team.
It was a good day for leadership. It also was a good day because Epstein showed his character and integrity that we all had come to admire one last time. He did not bash anyone. He did not blame anyone. He kept that to himself and obviously asked and got the agreement from Henry that why he resigned would stay within the confines of Red Sox management.
It was a shock to Red Sox fans and the sports writers to lose Theo Epstein. It was humbling to see Epstein stick by his morale compass and not be badgered by the press for "the answer". Esptein knew that the press wanted to blame someone. Boston is very good at the blame game unfortunately. But that's another story.
My best to Theo and may the Red Sox learn a lesson from this debacle. May the Red Sox apply what they have learned. That will be the real test of leadership. Have they learned from their mistakes and made things better? Only time will tell.
Barb .... The Leadership Lady
posted by Barb at
11:05 AM
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