Leaders Are Revealed During Difficult Times
Success often comes on the heels of adversity, and few know this better than Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. On Friday, October 25th, the Dodgers will take on the New York Yankees in the 2024 World Series, but their journey has not been an easy one.
Their summer was filled with inconsistent play and numerous injuries. For example, first baseman Freddie Freeman missed significant time due to his son’s illness. In addition, he also suffered a broken hand and sprained ankle causing him to miss additional time. Outfielder Mookie Betts also missed several months with a broken hand. Worse yet, twelve difference pitchers missed time during the season. At one point, the division title that once seemed secure was beginning to slip through their fingers.
In leadership, the most critical moments often come when things seem to be slipping away. In these times, real leaders step up, recalibrate their team’s focus, and guide them through adversity. For Roberts, that moment came this past September.
He gathered the team together, addressed the issues head-on, and reminded them of what they are capable of. This impromptu meeting became the turning point for the Dodgers in a season where injuries and struggles were threatening to derail everything they had worked for.
After reading this article from The Athletic, I gleaned from Roberts the following are five ways leaders keep their teams on track during difficult times:
5 Ways Leaders Keep Their Teams On Track During Difficult Times
1. Leadership is Bringing Hope When It Feels Lost
Outfielder Teoscar Hernández summed up the September meeting perfectly saying, “One meeting changed everything.”
In that meeting, Roberts reassured the team, brought clarity to the situation, and pumped life back into his squad. As Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ President of Baseball Operations, noted, “Doc did a great job of getting in front of that and pumping some enthusiasm and optimism into the group.”
As leaders, we have to recognize when our teams are losing focus or feeling defeated. Our job is then to restore hope and enthusiasm, just as Roberts did with the Dodgers.
2. Leading with Emotional Intelligence and Awareness
Third baseman Max Muncy said of Roberts’ leadership style, “He manages this club based on the guys in this room. He doesn’t do it off a spreadsheet. He doesn’t do it off what someone tells him. He walks around and he has conversations with everybody. He knows how pitchers are feeling. He knows how the position players are feeling.”
This is a critical insight into Roberts’ leadership. In an era when many decisions are data-driven, Roberts stands out for his human touch. He understands that leading people requires more than just following analytics—it requires emotional intelligence, building trust, and having real conversations with those you lead.
Great leaders take the time to know their people, not just their performance metrics. They understand the importance of individual well-being, and they lead with empathy, adjusting strategies based on what their team needs at any given moment. Roberts leads with both his heart and his head, making decisions that balance strategy with humanity.
3. Creating Intentional Connection and Team Unity
Betts pointed out another significant quality in Roberts’ leadership – intentionality. He said, “Every team gets to spend this much time together, but not everyone is intentional about the time.”
Roberts has fostered an environment where time spent together is meaningful. Whether it’s conversations about hitting in the cage or discussing family matters, he emphasizes genuine connection.
You can’t manufacture team chemistry, but you can nurture it through intentional actions. Roberts has created a culture where players bond over more than just the game. This kind of authentic connection helps teams weather the inevitable challenges that come their way. When players feel connected beyond the field, they will support each other during difficult times.
4. Building Trust Through Honesty and Consistency
In reflecting on the season, Roberts said, “Honestly, it’s trying to treat every guy the same, and honesty, and building trust.” He emphasized that when players trust the leadership, “you can ask anything of them.”
Trust is the foundation of every successful team. Roberts has spent years building that trust by being honest and consistent with his players. Because of that trust, when Roberts asks something of his team—whether it’s stepping up after a tough loss or adapting to new roles—they respond without hesitation.
Reliever Brent Honeywell noted, “Not one time have I questioned him.” This level of trust is what allowed the team to quickly bounce back from the September meeting and finish the season strong.
5. Staying Positive in Tough Times
Throughout the season, Dodgers’ President Stan Kasten remarked that Roberts “doesn’t get down when times get tough—and we had a lot of tough times.” That ability to stay positive in the face of adversity has been a key reason the Dodgers did not let their season slip away.
Roberts’ steadiness gives his players confidence, allowing them to stay focused on the task at hand instead of dwelling on what has gone wrong.
Conclusion:
The 2024 season has been one of the most trying for Dave Roberts and the Dodgers, but it’s also been one of the most satisfying. Why? Because true leaders rise in the face of adversity, and Roberts has done just that. He kept the team on track when it mattered most, bringing hope, leading with empathy, building trust, fostering connection, and staying positive.
In our own lives and organizations, we will face setbacks and challenges. How we respond in those moments will define our leadership. Dave Roberts shows us that even in the most difficult times, leaders who invest in their people and lead with trust, honesty, and optimism can turn things around.
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