“Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself.
When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.”
– Jack Welch
In baseball, the bullpen is where you find your backup plan when the pressure’s on, and your starter’s worn out. In business, your bullpen is just as vital. It’s your team of skilled individuals, ready to step up when your growth pushes you past your limits or when things take an unexpected turn.
Right now, the Detroit Tigers are absolutely kicking some butt – and one of the biggest reasons is the dominant pitching of Tarik Skubal. He’s one of the best, if not the best, starting pitchers in the league this season. Skubal has been a rock for the Tigers, and his rise is proof that when you develop and nurture talent, the whole team can thrive. But even the Tigers know they need more than just one star pitcher. Their bullpen has been strong, and it’s helping them keep games in control when Skubal’s done for the day.
Just like the Tigers’ rise, my story at Atlas reflects how critical it is to have a deep bullpen. Early on, our explosive growth hit a wall because we didn’t have the people ready to step into key roles in our company. I realized we were in trouble when the team wasn’t ready to carry the load, and it felt like we were just hoping someone would be able to step up when we needed them most. Sound familiar?
One of the most important lessons from both the Tigers’ success and our own is this: growth without a strong bullpen is unsustainable. You can’t just rely on any one person (including yourself) to carry the weight – whether it’s Skubal on the mound or a leader in your business.
Three suggestions to Cultivate a Strong Bullpen:
1. Invest in Development: Just as the Tigers invest in their pitchers, invest in training and mentorship to develop your team into capable leaders.
2. Focus on Succession Planning: Everyday we are either preparing, or repairing. I prefer to prepare! Like every successful team, make sure there’s a clear pathway for leadership at every level of your business. Don’t wait for a key player to leave before realizing you need a backup plan.
3. Create Accountability: Ensure that everyone in your bullpen knows their role and has the tools and authority to step in when needed. Empower them to make decisions as “intrepreneurs” and grow into their full potential.
Don’t miss this key point – if your team is struggling to achieve any form of growth, don’t rush into building your bullpen. It’s easy to want to fill gaps with backups, but the root of the problem often lies with your starters – the core people driving the direction of your business.
Before you invest in more team members, make sure your primary people are solid, aligned, and equipped with what they need to succeed. If the foundation isn’t strong, no amount of backup will fix the problem. Strengthening your leadership is the first critical step to creating the kind of growth that makes your bullpen a powerful, reliable asset.
Sustainable growth begins with a powerful core, AND a team that’s ready to step in when needed!