Lessons from the Field
Transferable Skills: communication, teamwork, adaptability, time management, leadership, decision making, critical thinking…
Emotional Intelligence: self awareness, accountability, gratitude, empathy, humility, tenacity…
These are the skills and the attributes needed to succeed in any career, in any and every industry today. These are the skills needed to keep pace with an ever changing workplace and economy. Beyond a career, these are also the skills needed to be a good human in a time when we desperately need good humans. But where does one learn teamwork? And who teaches us empathy or humility?
I believe that one of the best places to learn humility is at the fence in left field as the ball goes just beyond the reach of your glove. Communication feels critical at the half court line with under a minute to play. Adaptability is best learned in between raindrops on a chilly Saturday afternoon as the third game of the day gets underway. Teamwork is defined in the mud of a pitch as the scrum-half puts the ball in the tunnel and the 8-man eagerly awaits the opportunity to snatch the ball and advance down the field with the fly half. I believe that sports provide the greatest opportunity to actively learn and develop so many of the skills needed to succeed in life.
I’m not exactly sure when I started playing sports, but I also don’t remember a time when I wasn’t engaged with sports in some fashion. Softball was my first sport and remains the sport that I hold closest to my heart. As a kid, I developed critical motor skills on the field and learned how to interact with a team at a young age. I quickly learned responsibility for my equipment and the importance of communication on the field.
My place in the game evolved over the next few years as I began my journey of self awareness. I learned how to play to my strengths and practice through my weaknesses. Focus was learned in hours of practicing how to place a bunt anywhere on the field. Strategic thinking was developed as I learned when to drop that perfect bunt during the game. I found my home in the number two spot in the batting lineup, consistently putting my teammates in scoring position. I found my home in left field, constantly robbing the opposing team of hits and extra bases. Consistency and dependability are two of my core values that I developed on the field.
In high school, the softball field became both a safety net and a springboard. I found a place where I belonged. I realized that the view from left field was a pretty nice one, and I also realized that I wasn’t willing to settle for the politics of high school softball. I learned pretty early in life that I am not a fan of the games played to get ahead within organizations. Looking back, I also learned that sometimes you have to play those games in order to have a chance at winning.
Softball is just one of the sports I played as a child, and it is the sport that carried me into adulthood. When life got hard, left field was always there to help me process emotions and continue on. Luckily, most days there was also a team surrounding me to help me move forward through life’s challenges. Perhaps one of the greatest skills learned playing softball as an adult is patience.
Why does the ball have to move so slowly across the plate? And why does it always look like a watermelon dropping into the zone, as I spin in circles through my overly eager strike two? Patience, persistence, focus, networking, and the ability to reinvent your game. All of these skills are mastered in the game of slow pitch softball in your early twenties. And all of these skills are crucial to your career success in your late twenties and into your future.
As we start the new year, reflecting on all that is happening in the world today, I firmly believe the things we learned as athletes on a field or a court over the course of years, possibly decades, are the very skills that will drive our success in the future. I think about all of the teams I have had the opportunity to be a part of. I am grateful for all of the teammates, coaches and players that I have been blessed to know, and to learn from. I appreciate decades of lessons learned and hours upon hours of practice, honing skills that I didn’t even know I was learning. As we move into 2022, I am looking forward to sharing these lessons, creating a space where you belong, and helping you hone your transferable skills to win your game!
Cheers to ‘22!
