Imagine that you play for a professional baseball team and you are in your home stadium. You made it to the big leagues and are excited to play for your team in front of thousands of fans at home.
As you take to the field you notice something disturbing. There are more fans wearing hats, jerseys, and T-shirts representing the opposing team. As the game advances into the third inning, you notice the fans are shouting and cheering for the team against which you are playing. When the other team is batting and the loudspeaker sounds the bugle call for charge, there is a resounding response from the crowd. But they are cheering for the team you are playing against.
This is not a scenario I dreamed up in my head as it plays out in Denver on a frequent basis when the Colorado Rockies are at home. As I write this, the Rockies have won 31 games and lost 48 games and once again, they are in the cellar. My wife and I watch most of the games on television and we repeatedly notice that the loudest fans are rooting for the other team. What is wrong with this picture and how does it apply to leadership?
While this may happen in sports, leaders need to ask: What does this situation reveal when people working in an organization are more enthusiastic about something else or even another organization? This is troubling and should be a cause for concern.
For starters, do not assume that everyone is loyal to the organization and realize that loyalty is earned. We would think that home-field advantage should be natural, but support cannot be taken for granted or assumed. Also, do not think that paychecks, organizational traditions, or historical standing in the community automatically creates commitment from the troops. People support what they believe in and where they feel connected.
Do the people in your organization believe in what they are doing and do they feel connected? If not, what is behind them rooting for the other team? Take the time to ask these questions and then make the necessary corrections if needed. Your fans should be rooting for you and not the other team.
