Not knowing where I ought to take this blog next, I figured Why not highlight another exemplary San Francisco leader? Though these men are apples and oranges, both men found success in their work because of something critically important to leadership, in relationships, and toward the accomplishment of a goal: communication.
Father Tony was an outstanding homilist and public speaker. Because he was authentic, erudite, prepared and thoughtful—his audience was always happy to listen and learn. I still remember some of what he taught us about the Gospel through the spoken word. He was also a prolific letter writer. Like many of the greats in US History—Theodore Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt and George H.W. Bush—he understood the power of pen, paper and stamp!
I started writing this blog shortly after Kapler was named National League Manager of the Year. It seems odd to connect him to a Catholic priest. Nonetheless, he offers so much for coaches and other leaders to learn from. Enjoy!
Kap
Though well deserved, it's hard to get too excited about the announcement of MLB's Executive of the year. Yes, even though the 2021 honoree is the President of Operations for my San Francisco Giants, this distinction speaks to the business side of baseball vs. the down and dirty, hands on way they play the game. But the orange and black got to celebrate one day later. In a surprise to absolutely no one Gabe Kapler was named the NL Manager of the year. Congratulations Kap...and bigger congrats to Fahan for hiring him.
Though well deserved, it's hard to get too excited about the announcement of MLB's Executive of the year. Yes, even though the 2021 honoree is the President of Operations for my San Francisco Giants, this distinction speaks to the business side of baseball vs. the down and dirty, hands on way they play the game. But the orange and black got to celebrate one day later. In a surprise to absolutely no one Gabe Kapler was named the NL Manager of the year. Congratulations Kap...and bigger congrats to Fahan for hiring him.
When hired in in 2019, Kapler knew he had big shoes and a big cap to fill. As the 37th manager of the Giants, he took over for the three-time championship skipper Bruce Bochy (size 8 1/8 hat). Kapler was appointed to this leadership role after being fired for failing to take the Philadelphia Phillies—a talented club— to the post-season two years in a row.
In a surprise to just about everyone, the Giants chose Kapler among the candidates. The media was skeptical. Fans were too. This decision left my friend Kevin believing Farhan was a plant by the Dodgers. We held our breath but not our tongues. Two years later, a new story has emerged.
Though the Giants failed to make the COVID-post season by one game, one year later they won the NL West for the first time in 9 years. Under Kapler the team also won a record 107 games. In doing so, he received 28 out of 30 first place votes for Manager of the year.
Though the Giants failed to make the COVID-post season by one game, one year later they won the NL West for the first time in 9 years. Under Kapler the team also won a record 107 games. In doing so, he received 28 out of 30 first place votes for Manager of the year.
I hope you are wondering How? How did he do it? or maybe you are asking Why? Why did he succeed? From what I have read and heard on the radio, I would like to offer a few answers. Fellow coaches, take note. Leaders pay heed. Fans, thank God.
1. Communication
Time and again, I have heard Kapler is an excellent communicator.
Time and again, I have heard Kapler is an excellent communicator.
MLB writes, "Kapler was praised by his players for maintaining open lines of communication with them throughout the regular season, an important aspect for any manager, but it was especially important given the way the Giants utilized their entire roster in order to optimize every possible matchup. San Francisco shattered the record for pinch-hit appearances as Kapler exploited right-left matchups aggressively."
I don't know what relationship doesn't benefit from good communication. In the Athletics office at St Francis where I work, we encourage coaches to over-communicate. Don't assume what athletes, teams or parents know. It's important to reach out and do so regularly through our words—both written and spoken, shared and promoted. Clearly, Kapler found the right tools for make the lines of communication open and strong.
I don't know what relationship doesn't benefit from good communication. In the Athletics office at St Francis where I work, we encourage coaches to over-communicate. Don't assume what athletes, teams or parents know. It's important to reach out and do so regularly through our words—both written and spoken, shared and promoted. Clearly, Kapler found the right tools for make the lines of communication open and strong.
2. Become a good listener.
Over the years, Kapler said, he has learned to listen more intently to the needs of his players and use the information to inform his in-game decisions.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports, “I think I’ve really started to respect, understand and appreciate the feedback that I’m getting from players on a regular basis,” he said. “I really trust our players.” That ability to listen has led to a hallmark of Kapler's style of leader and what is interesting to me is that it has led to...
3. Trust
As written in Gabe Kapler opens up about initial perception when Giants hired him, Kapler admits, “my goal was and continues to be to earn trust over the course of time. You don’t earn it in the first conversation. You earn it through consistent work and loyalty over a period of years. I think we’re off to a good start of building that foundation of trust, and I think we have to continue to build on it if we want to keep this level of excitement going about the Giants.”
As written in Gabe Kapler opens up about initial perception when Giants hired him, Kapler admits, “my goal was and continues to be to earn trust over the course of time. You don’t earn it in the first conversation. You earn it through consistent work and loyalty over a period of years. I think we’re off to a good start of building that foundation of trust, and I think we have to continue to build on it if we want to keep this level of excitement going about the Giants.”
Trust is never a given. Quite often it is something we feel must be earned. When it is broken, or shattered (think of the image of a mirror) it takes time to We all thrive when when members of a team feel that they can be trusted and when they trust one another.
4. Welcoming and Promoting Diversity
As told by Steve Gilbert, "I also feel like we've built one of the most diverse staffs in baseball," Kapler said. "And if there's anything that I think is worthy of being emulated, it's that. It's getting a wide variety of people from a wide variety of backgrounds, ethnicities, and baseball upbringings into our group so that every player on our club has somebody to connect with and somebody to relate to. I believe that diversity is critically important in baseball and [so is] helping people from marginalized groups get into decision-making positions in baseball. Part of the reason I think that's important is because I think a more diverse group of people, of humans, make better decisions as a group."
While some might credit Tom Brady with bringing a Super Bowl trophy to Tampa Bay, football insiders give credit to Bruce Arians and the diversity of the Buccaneers staff—one the field and in the front office. Kapler hired the first female coach in MLB, Alyssa Nakken. Looks like one good decisions led to many more!
5. Focus—Intentionality and Purpose
And here in San Francisco, our local news was proud to report what Kapler had to say. "I have to be putting one foot in front of the other and focused on the job that I have in front of me," he said. "There just isn't enough energy to be doing anything else. Last couple years I've been really focused on helping to build that environment that I mentioned. And we're doing it with a lot of great people in this organization in San Francisco -- in the front office and everybody under the clubhouse roof, but also [people] across the organization who have been working really hard to put together a really excellent baseball operations department. We've got a lot of work ahead of us, but I think we've taken some pretty big steps in the last couple years."
And here in San Francisco, our local news was proud to report what Kapler had to say. "I have to be putting one foot in front of the other and focused on the job that I have in front of me," he said. "There just isn't enough energy to be doing anything else. Last couple years I've been really focused on helping to build that environment that I mentioned. And we're doing it with a lot of great people in this organization in San Francisco -- in the front office and everybody under the clubhouse roof, but also [people] across the organization who have been working really hard to put together a really excellent baseball operations department. We've got a lot of work ahead of us, but I think we've taken some pretty big steps in the last couple years."
The great enemy of excellence just might be distraction. Kapler nails it when he speaks of the need to keep our energy focused and channeled toward a specific goal. His words are a great reminder for me as a leader of a team in the classroom.
6. Growth and Development for All
“My goal is obviously to support the players and what their goals are, create an environment that’s helpful for players to grow and develop and for staff members to also grow and develop,” Kapler said after winning the award.
I became a good teacher at St. Ignatius, where I taught for 16 years because of my fellow colleagues and the school's emphasis on professional development. The benefits from those classes, courses and retreats bore fruit in the classroom, the relationships I developed with teachers at SI and other schools and creative ventures (like this blog).
“My goal is obviously to support the players and what their goals are, create an environment that’s helpful for players to grow and develop and for staff members to also grow and develop,” Kapler said after winning the award.
I became a good teacher at St. Ignatius, where I taught for 16 years because of my fellow colleagues and the school's emphasis on professional development. The benefits from those classes, courses and retreats bore fruit in the classroom, the relationships I developed with teachers at SI and other schools and creative ventures (like this blog).
Because of his ability to successfully fundraise, Father Tony and SI were able to provide opportunities for professional development at little to not cost to faculty. I availed myself to and appreciated these opportunities. I am so grateful.
The world says "invest in yourself." I get it. And yet, two great leaders invested in themselves and in others. The result? No communication necessary. It speaks for itself.
The world says "invest in yourself." I get it. And yet, two great leaders invested in themselves and in others. The result? No communication necessary. It speaks for itself.
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