3 Leadership Lessons From All-Star Ben Zobrist

It couldn’t have happened to a better guy. Last week, the Rays “Super-Utility Infielder” (and one of my favorite players) Ben Zobrist was selected to be on the American League All-Star team. While most players made the All-Star team through the vote of the fans, Zobrist was hand-selected by Jim Leyland, the coach of the A.L. Team. Because the All-Star game in baseball carries significant weight (the winning division get home-field advantage in the World Series), Leyland wanted to add a versatile player who could be ready to help in any situation at any time. Enter Ben Zobrist.

Ben Zobrist is like the Swiss Army knife of a baseball team…he can do it all! He can play right field, second base, short stop, has a good bat, rarely strikes out, and no matter what he’s asked to do, he does it with a great attitude. He’s been described as “a coach’s best friend.” His character, unselfish behavior, and willingness to do anything for the good of the team make him such an asset.

Here are 3 great leadership lessons we can learn from Ben’s example:

There’s nothing worse than a player who’s driven more by their stats than the score. Team players want to win, and they’re willing to do whatever it takes. Keeping our eyes on the goal helps us stay focused on what’s really important. We all want to be good at what we do, and receive recognition for it. But when we become more focused on the part we play than the reason for playing, we miss out on the greater good. Our willingness to be flexible, make adjustments, and serve with a great attitude will ultimately make our team better.

Or in Ben Zobrist’s case, the wild pitches. Last week, in a game against the Detroit Tigers, Ben Zobrist was hit by a pitch…on purpose. The Tigers were still upset about something from a previous game, and decided to take it out on Zorilla (not a smart idea). Ben, after realizing what happened, shook it off, gave a smile to the pitcher, and jogged to first base. While many times this leads to a bunch of yelling and fights, Ben found a way to keep his cool, and move on. Here’s the best part: The same coach who ordered his pitcher to hit Zobrist one week, picked him for the All-Star team the next!

Flexibility matters most when thing aren’t going our way. There will be ups and downs and things thrown at us that hurt from time to time. Remember that our attitude in difficulty determines our destiny.

I’ve heard it said that “a rising tide lifts all the boats.” It’s one thing to be a great player. It’s even better to be a player that helps make others great. That’s what Ben Zobrist does. His attitude, consistency, and willingness to be a team-first player help raise the tide in the Rays organization. He doesn’t spend time dwelling on his own successes or failures, but keeps his focus on winning one game at a time. From night to night his role changes, but he’s always working to help his team get better.

Jesus, in the book of Mark, summed up being the greatest like this: He said, “Whoever wants to be first must be least of all and the servant of all.” Our willingness to serve, be flexible, and put the good of others first gives us the opportunity to raise the tide in our organization, job, and even our family.