There are times those on our team have subpar performance. How should we as leaders develop them at that point?
In this article from The Athletic, writers Ken Rosenthal and Stephen Nesbitt tell the story of Houston Astros rookie pitcher Spencer Arrighetti. Arrighetti’s initial performance was subpar to say the least.
In his first 15 starts, he had an ERA of 6.13. This is poor by major league standards. But in his last eight starts, his ERA was 3.21 – very good by major league standards. What happened that cause the improved performance? Was it just good fortune or was there an actually process which helped Arrighetti get better?
The answer provides a template for how leaders can help develop those with subpar performance on their teams.
Elevate The Value Of Preparation
It is true, you will either prepare or repair. Arrighetti said, “I think generally I’ve taken my scouting-report time a little bit more seriously and gotten a little more in-depth.” By preparing in greater detail for his upcoming pitching assignments, Arrighetti saw a corresponding improvement in his performance.
Data Is Your Friend
Numbers tell a story about your performance. Arrighetti said. “I’ve kind of taken that confidence I have from looking at the numbers into the game with me and trusting the stuff is good enough as it is.”
Look for quantifiable ways to evaluate performance and then make the proper adjustments.
Provide Veteran Peer-to-Peer Coaching
Arrighetti added, “Or at least I feel like I’ve gotten some good direction from guys in the clubhouse on what numbers really matter when we’re looking at scouting reports.” What we learn is that when the organization’s veterans invest in the development of their colleagues, improvement is more likely to take place.
This is because they have and are experiencing the same things. Their input is valuable because it is not theoretical.
What Got You Here Won’t Keep You Here – Adjust
When Arrighetti first joined the big league club, he ignored the scouting reports and relied on his natural abilities. This athletic arrogance was leading to his demise. Pride was going before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. With the “encouragement” of his coaches and fellow players, Arrighetti began relying on the team’s analytics and scouting reports to improve his performance.
Astros manager Joe Espada said, “Young pitchers often employ the same methods that made them successful as minor leaguers. The problem they face is that major-league hitters are the best in the world. Only after getting hit around do the young pitchers recognize that they need to alter their approach.”
Focus On Execution
Once you have properly prepared, received feedback, and used data to make the proper adjustments, the only thing left to do is execute.
Arrighetti concluded that he needed to, “Worry more about executing pitches than I do about how nasty it was or how hard I’m throwing that day. That shift in focus to being more of a pitcher than a thrower has helped me a lot.”
Conclusion
If you or a member of your team is experiencing subpar performance, these five steps will help you a lot as well.
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