After Thomas Edison’s seven-hundredth unsuccessful attempt to invent electric light, he was asked by a New York Times reporter, “How does it feel to have failed seven hundred times?” The great inventor responded, “I have not failed seven hundred times. I have not failed once. I have succeeded in proving that those seven hundred ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.”

Anyone who has tried to learn a new skill – from riding a bicycle to mastering the features on the latest electronic device – knows that “failures” are necessary steps in finding the “way that will work.”

Failure is a big part of the game of baseball, and one need look no further for evidence than the standard of excellence for hitters – the .300 batting average.  What that average means in simplest terms is that the hitter failed to get a hit 7 out of 10 times.  Yet to reach this performance level (succeeding only 3 of 10 ten times) is arguably one of the most difficult goals to achieve in sports.  Consider that out of the over 16,000 retired players to perform at the big-league level, less than 200 were .300 hitters.

When we consider what it takes to be a premier hitter, we find lessons for the workplace.  Consider that the difference between a .250 hitter (below average) and a .300 hitter (“Hall of Fame” caliber) is about one hit more per week during the season.

As a manager, imagine the results your team could achieve if you could help each of your team members get one more “hit” each week – improve their skills, add more knowledge, be a bit more enthusiastic.  You probably have more than a few future .300 hitters.

   

Putting the Ideas into Action

We know that “whatever is reinforced will be repeated.”  So consider these steps in helping your associates get “one more hit each week”:

  1. Identify opportunities for growth for each of your associates
  2. Share the vision you have for each associate to more fully realize their potential
  3. Map out a plan for the associate to follow to improve their skills, knowledge, attitude
  4. Reinforce, reward and recognize their success and “failures” (positive attempts)