I was recently wondering why my contractors keep telling me about problems that the other contractors have caused them when I question their use of time, materials and manpower. I was amazed at some of the excuses I heard. Most of them centered around the shortcomings of everyone else instead of upon the obvious, "Why can't I do my job?".
It was then that I realized that I hear this type of thing all the time when I talk to people about sports. The Painters can't do their job because the drywallers used a spackle that left too much moisture in the walls for their usual paint to adhere to properly. That sounds an awfull lot like "The GM that preceded me made some picks in the draft that are going to handcuff this organization for years to come." The Basement contrator left his foundation off a 1/2" over the span of 20'. I can't frame on that kind of shoddy workmanship. You should have gone with my guy." Sounds like a manager making excuses after his best pitcher gets hurt and he is looking for a replacement at the deadline. Instead he gets Pudge Rodriguez.
The point I am trying to make here is that excuses are a wonderful thing for those who don't like accountability, but for the rest of us they are irritating and bore the #### out of us when you are trying to get a straight answer. All the excuses in the world are not going to change the fact that I am going to have the sheathing insulation turned to face the correct way by the contractor who installed it whether he thinks the framers should have used #6 common nails or galvanized. The job gets done or you get fired. Accountability at its best.
Take the present dilemna facing Joe Torre in LA. Manny comes over from Boston where apparently none of the southies notice that Manny hasn't been close to a pair of scissors since he joined the team, and makes excuses as to why he has yet to cut his hair to a managable length as it is noted in the Dodgers rule book. Now does Joe take action by benching or fining Manny until he complies with the standards or do we start the Manny being Manny train all over again. The fans might even side with Manny in LA. It has been that long since they have seen a legitimate power threat in the lineup almost anything might be excusable.
For the flip side of that. Joe Madden benches one the better players in his line up this weekend for a game and a half after he lacks hustle beating out a double play ball. Joe demanded accountability from his player and it would seem that if Upton wants to play he is going to have to put his feet down the line like each play means something. Imagine if you will Sorriano on the Rays bench after his skip, toss and jog for a wall####ing single. Sweet Lou is supposed to be the tough guy but he seems very soft with his dealings in this matter.
Let's go back to Manny being held accountable for nothing in Boston and the team blames him for their lack of desire this year. Look at your management. You have enabled "Manny the Brat" to play the game for so long that he has become more blight than bat. Bye bye Manny. Who is going to be our next Nomar/ Mo/ Lynn/ Tiant. All guys who were enabled throughout their careers until they became too much for the "team" to handle.
Is this the only sport that has it's share of enablers? Hell no. Remember the years that Philly had their hockey team held hostage by their star player. The same player whose family ultimately called the shots for him so in essence they were making management decisions for the Flyers for how many years? The knicks are still reeling about turning their franchise over to a man who twice knocked them out of the playoffs while he was a player and effectively has done the same for many more years as their GM/ Head Coach/ Office "hands on" Manager.
Look at what happens when you hold people accountable and hold those organizations accountable as well on the same level. You get the Twins. They have a payroll and competition commitment that supercedes all egos. You get the Jaguars. Team on the field that plays above and beyond the capability of it's owner who seems to be little better than a local hood who lucked into the big time. You get the Cowboys. Yes the Cowboys. Never down for long because of a commitment to providing the best coaches available, the best players available and wrap the whole thing in a very fun and attractive city known for it's good times and protective treatment of it's celebrities. Unless of course you are dating Jessica Simpson.
There are other francises like this. The Spurs. The Red Wings, The Angels, The Braves. The Yankees. The Lakers. All of these teams have something in common. Accountability in the ownership, management, or the coaching on the field. It is amazing when you have just one of these qualities exsistant how often the other phases of the team come around to the developement of a culture. A winning culture. In NASCAR you have three dominant teams that so adhere to their cultures of winning that when they move a new team into place they actually find it as important training them in the culture of their team as they do in giving them their own spot in the garage.
So you are of course always building a team. You provide them with a place to play and the financial means to provide for their families in the process. The check and the sideline are great, but when do most teams talk to them about how to win. Most teams place the pressure on the individual with a weighty paycheck and the warning that the local media will place you on a cross if you are perceived a failure. See Vinnie Castillo and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. How important is it to make the individual a winner when he or she comes into the organization? I am of a mind that it should be of the utmost importance. That concept of providing the player with a place to win, not only play, is starting to grow in all sports.
Who do we see teaching a winning culture right now from the ground up? The Rays? Maybe, too soon to tell but they look like a good bet. The NY Giants? A better bet as they release problem player after problem player and only seem to get stronger as a team each time. The Hornets? Another too soon to tell team but I could see them in the top five for years to come with their present approach. How about USF football? Definite contender for those who follow them. They are employing a system and a technique for always fielding a competitive team. There is however the plan to succeed and the developement of a winning culture going on in all of those places.
Too many times I look into the eyes of my contractor while he is explaining something to me that he thinks I know nothing about, and he looks away failing to meet my stare as he tries to sell me a lame excuse for not doing his job. That technique lacks respect and trust. I can only figure I have to watch him more closely after each time we speak. He has not tried to develope a culture of trust or accomplishment since I wrote the first check. I think back to how I selected him for the job. I was told by someone I respected he was the right guy for the job. I now respect that person less as well. Most of all I am rethinking my approach ultimately putting the responsibility on myself for making the decisions that put me where I am today. Next time I will do things differently.
I would like to leave this life accountable for all things in my life.
