My wife and I had the occasion recently to watch a season of Municipal Girls Softball - young teenagers learning the thrills and challenges of team sports. They were learning the sport of softball, the dynamics of team play, and, as Jim McKay of ABC Sports used to say, the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. With any league play, it kept track of wins and losses, and at the end of the regular season, qualifying teams began a championship series. In this case, it was double elimination. As we watched, one of the teams won their first playoff game and lost the second, after which their players nearly melted down while experiencing that agony of defeat. As spectators, we watched them going through that emotional roller coast and felt their pain. But the games must go on, so we came back the next day to see how they’d do – they were tentative with each other and the game at first, but each found that well of strength that’s the result of a little bit of talent and a lot of hard work. They fell behind and battled back to win their two quarter-final games, qualifying for the finals. Because of rain, the next day’s games were cancelled, and they had to play and win three back-to-back games today to win. And they did! I love team dynamics and often used sport’s metaphors in the workplace, so I’ve seen teams of employees come together, overcome challenges, and accomplish great things. Like those employees, these young girls came together, learned to trust each other, and found the thrill of fighting for a collective achievement. We cheered and loved the look on their faces at the end. And knew that through it all, they each found out who they could be. A worthwhile and satisfying personal achievement today.
Massimo Bottura (born 1962): Italian chef and owner of Osteria Francescana, which has earned three Michelin stars, a green Michelin star, and has been ranked among the top restaurants in the world.
No comments:
Post a Comment