Timeout for Leadership-your one-minute leadership idea
Tip Sheet #38
Finding your five-tool player?
You can learn a great deal from the 2011 movie Moneyball. The movie is chock full of leadership lessons. There have actually been college courses 
taught on this very topic. To simplify this, the Oakland Athletics began to quantify everything. They built the team by using all sorts of statistics and analyses and sometimes these stats flew in the face of traditional knowledge. In the spirit of our summer baseball leadership series, today we will look at the five-tool player and how you can apply it to your school or for that matter any organization.
For the Athletics, their quest was to always identify the five-tool player. This player could hit for average, hit for power, possess a unique speed, have tremendous throwing ability and could field his position. Somehow, they would assign a personal number to each element and then apply some statistical analysis.
Could I do the same when I was looking for a teacher? A principal? A secretary? A custodian? You get my point. I was looking for a formula to use to identify my five-tool teacher or my five-tool staff member. Then somehow, I would assign a numeric, crunch some numbers and ultimately find the very best teacher in the applicant pool.
This sounded quite good until I set out to identify my five tools. I found that I was looking for much more from a teacher and maybe I actually needed eight, ten or twelve tools. Who knows? Then how would I crunch the number? It is at this point my time and mathematical skill ran out. Yet, I still think that the idea could have some merit. So, at the end of the day after much reflection here are my five tools:
- A superior work ethic.
- A tremendous attitude.
- The ability to express oneself in both verbally and in writing.
- The ability to work as part of a team and collaborate.
- The ability to build relationships.
There are many other variables that you could add. Note that I did not include content knowledge or pedagogical skill which are two important elements. Also note that I could use pretty much the same framework for each category of employees that I identified earlier in this blog. It really applies to everyone.
I think if I was ever able to implement my rubric, I would find “winners” and ultimate champions. The Oakland Athletics did!
I would love to hear what your five-tools are. I think it would spark a lively debate. And remember, you only get five. Thanks.
