Mr.
Torre and The Evil Empire
Like all good marriages, mine has balance… I am a Yankee fan and Emily cheers
for the Red Sox.
I was overcome with joy this past October when Aaron Boone ended the championship
hopes of Red Sox Nation. Boone, along with Bucky Dent, will now go down in Red Sox
lore with the same middle name, beginning with the letter “f” and otherwise
unprintable here! But my joy was tempered by Emily’s disappointment, helping
me keep things in perspective.
From a business standpoint, the most fascinating thing about the Yankees is their
management team, a case study in contrasting leadership styles. On the one hand,
the Yankees are owned by George Steinbrenner, the most egotistical, impulsive and
impatient owner in all of American professional sports. He sets the bar high for
his team, demanding excellence and expecting a championship every year. No problem
there. But he also creates a tense and suffocating work environment for everyone
in the organization.
On the other hand, the Yankees are managed by Joe Torre, one of the few constants
in the Yankee clubhouse since 1995. From my spot in the cheap seats, Mr. Torre is
one of the great leaders in professional sports today. He sets the tone for his team,
has certain basic rules for player conduct, and then gets out of the way to let his
players win championships. He understands that life in Yankee-land does not revolve
around him.
Playing and working for the Yankees is the biggest double-edged sword in modern
American sports. If you wear Yankee pinstripes, you are guaranteed several things.
You will have the best facilities, the most amenities, and the best trainers in your
sport. You will play in Yankee Stadium, filled with history and tradition. Your team
will spare no expense to bring in any player who might help the Yankees win. According
to Larry Lucchino, Red Sox CEO, the Yankees are the
“evil empire”, evoking images of Darth Vader, the Soviet Union, and US
Steel.
But you will also have to deal with Mr. Steinbrenner, who will criticize his players
in the media (Derek Jeter), openly court other players to fill a position, even ones
that are already filled by a team leader and recent All Star (Kenny Lofton and Bernie
Williams), and seem disinterested in offering one of the best left-handed pitchers
in the game an appropriate contract (Andy Pettite).
I have suggested to you previously that leadership is, at least in part, about having
a vision for your organization, articulating it, and shaping opinion to build consensus
around it. Mr. Torre regularly demonstrates another critical leadership characteristic.
He leads by protecting his players from distraction and allowing them to focus, all
while working in the world’s media capital with the most intrusive owner in
modern sports history. Mr. Torre’s leadership genius is his ability to deflect
the media spotlight, and insulate his players from the glare of the owner’s
box. He deflects distractions and protects the team. He doesn’t criticize them
in the media. He treats them like the professionals they are, giving them credit
when they win, and never pointing fingers when they don’t.
The Yankees have succeeded because they have great players and spend money. But
they also have won because of Joe Torre. His style of leadership is rare and offers
a great lesson for us all.
 Beacon Issue -
January 2004
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