Take A Swing at Leadership and Find your Sweet Spot

"A person always doing his or her best becomes a natural leader just by example" – Joe DiMaggio.

We see great leaders in many places, and our culture always looks to sports for motivation while also referencing many of our leadership qualities. Leadership in life and business is a lot like playing America's favorite pastime: Baseball. A successful leader needs a few things, like having the right tools, team, opportunities, and strategy. Being short in any of them makes the tasks that much harder.

The moment you decide to step into the batter’s box to take a swing at whatever is thrown your way is when you decide you want to be a leader. Step up and find ways to hit your sweet spot to do the best you can; when you do that, you might even hit a home run.

First, you must put all our efforts into everything you do. Play to win, and that holds true whether you are playing a game or leading a team. It is so important to put all you have into your efforts. This means setting big goals and working tirelessly to achieve them.

Setting big goals can be intimidating, but it is important to remember that even the best players in the game need to start somewhere. You need to start with a goal, just like you wouldn't get in the car without a destination.

Visualize what your goal is, and then you can begin to build the plan to achieve that end goal. While you might never know what opportunities will come up during the year, the one thing you need to know is to always bet on yourself and do your best.

Think of this past season, Aaron Judge was offered a huge contract before the season, and he decided to bet on himself. Aaron went from 39 home runs the year before to hitting an American League record 62 home runs and won the M.V.P. You, too, can strive for your own record-breaking achievements when you set those goals and bet on yourself.

While each of us has a unique personality and the way we swing, it is important to choose the right approach and find the right balance. You should have a clear understanding of your why.

Ask yourself why you chose the goal you want to achieve, and then decide how passionate you are about that goal. The passion will ensure that you will continue to push even when things get more difficult and will assist you in many ways as you go forward. A strong drive to work towards your goals will mean you will not give up until you get what you want.

Now that you know your goal, it is essential for any successful person to break down each big goal into small, manageable steps, and create a timeline for when you achieve each smaller goal leading up to the larger goal. Before you step up to the plate, you need to have a plan. The same goes for leadership. You need to know where you are going and how to get there.

Creating the game plan with your strategy assists in managing the steps you need to take them. Creating the plan and knowing that is a start but plans on paper still need to be executed on the field. To do this, you will need to work on your skills as well as your team's.

Stepping into the batting cage and taking those cuts are crucial because repetition builds muscle memory and enhances the ability to perform when the game is on the line. Putting in the time and effort with each step and swing will also build resilience and will stop you from giving up when things get difficult. Knowing you were able to perform means you just need to tap into that memory once again.

Part of the knowledge of creating the plan will build a road map to build upon.

As we start the season, we must remember that starting right can make the end goal much easier to achieve.

As Billy Martin, a famous manager, once said, "The wins in April also count in September." Tracking your small goals and ensuring they align themselves with the larger ones is important to ensure you are on the right path.

Now that you have a goal, we must remember that life is a team activity. No great player has ever made it to the top alone. Surround yourself with the right team, a fantastic group of mentors who will encourage and motivate you along the way. The best teams are made up of players who complement each other and work together towards this common goal.

As a leader, it's essential to understand how each player, coach, and mentor fit into the team dynamic. It is not just about skill. The team becomes more powerful when each player understands their role, and you have a shared vision. Seeing the same goal and vision is so important because it encourages you to support each other along the way.

When you are a good leader, you are able to know how to motivate and support your team best. Each person might be different in how they work and whether they need encouragement. Knowing your team well and how they perform best will be vital because you need to know when to celebrate their successes and guide them through their failures.

Consistency is always going to be how you achieve your goals. Even in baseball, developing a solid batting average is so important. You do not need to be perfect, as perfection is only one moment and constantly changes.

Just like a great hitter, a great leader needs to be consistent. You can’t get discouraged by a few strikeouts or a slump because those are just part of the game. Focus again on what you’re doing right, and work to improve your weaknesses. Seeing the larger picture will assist you in achieving your greatness as a leader.

Hall of Fame pitcher Walter Johnson once said, “You can’t hit what you can’t see.” As a leader, you will see a curveball or change up every now and then, and how you are able to adjust your swing will determine the success of yourself and others.

No matter how you play the game and approach your leadership, take time to celebrate your accomplishments individually and with your team. Celebrating along the way is a special way to acknowledge and build team unity. A few well-placed singles along the way create momentum. Take time to celebrate it all - the great catches that save the day or the runs crossing home, which are just as special as the home runs.

No matter what you do to lead, keep setting big goals, and step up to the plate. It takes courage, hard work, and determination, but the rewards are so worth it. Take your best swing and make sure you find the sweet spot.

About the author:

David Chametzky is a Producer, Author, Media Host, Growth Coach, Mentor, and Philanthropist. He is an Amazon #1 Best-Selling Author of three books: Proximity to Power, Cracking TheRich Code, The lessons I Learned from Being an Entrepreneur, and his first solo book, When Your Heart Says It’s Your Time to Soar.

As the Media Host of the internationally high-ranking PODCAST “Peace Love & Bring A Bat”, David helps people who are ready for higher levels of living & succeeding to Soar or be ON THE PATH to Powerful Personal Growth. For others whose life challenges have taken them to their knees, David Chametzky’s PHOENIX RISING Program lifts them from the ashes and resources them to soar at levels they’ve never experienced.

And following his heart for philanthropic community support, David Chametzky co-founded the organization Goons ForGood, serving people who need hope and resources.