Let’s get the hard part out first: Seeing the Blue Jays come up short in an extra-innings World Series game seven was a heartbreaker. Although Blue Jays fans feel the sting of defeat, we’ve also shared an incredible gift: a team that went from worst to first, fueled by unbelievable hitting, pitching, fielding and simply all-around, awe-inspiring athleticism!
As I watched the Jays find a way to win throughout this incredible season, I couldn’t help but examine their performance through the lens of learning and development. How did the Jays become such a cohesive team? How could so many players deliver the best performances of their careers? And most importantly (to an L&D pro), what role did the human skills play in their magical season, and what can we learn from it?
It got me thinking about CareerForce Skills, Redwood’s interactive simulation designed to help new graduates and employees develop human skills. Because when examined through that lens, the extent to which these skills fuel winning performance became clear.
Here are five significant benefits that I believe demonstrate the power of human skills to build top-notch teams in baseball and in business:
1. Communication that Cuts Through the Noise
Winning baseball means making the right call at the right time with clear intent and no mixed signals. Human skills play a significant role in strengthening the communication that drives performance improvement.
Active listening sparks opportunities, uncovers problems, and ensures that everyone understands the goal and their role in achieving it. Empathy skills help you deliver communication in a non-threatening way, and clarity helps avoid confusion. The net effect? Fewer crossed wires and a team that thinks, feels, and performs together.
2. Role Clarity That Builds Trust
On a winning team, everyone knows their role and responsibilities. Regardless of whether it’s making that diving catch in the outfield or knocking it out of the park with the bases loaded, each player knows exactly what they need to do to advance the team.
In the business world, every person who develops their human skills gives the entire team a boost. Concise direction reduces rework. Empathy drives collaboration. Taking ownership of tasks helps achieve milestones, especially when individuals know that the team has their back!
3. Tight Feedback Loops
Remember how the batter would always review his previous at-bat on a tablet? A slow-motion review shows whether they were swinging late or early, rolling over (with hands and forearms turning early), or pulling off (over-rotating and chasing velocity).
Similarly, immediate review also helps a batter decode the pitcher to gain critical insight into factors like velocity and pitch sequencing. Knowing whether you will most likely face a back-to-back slider or a fastball is the kind of advantage that empowers world-class batting.
Likewise, winning business teams understand the value of immediate, specific, and honest feedback. The best coaching is clear and specific. Psychological safety ensures that people can focus on performance rather than the consequences of mistakes. Blue Jays’ business lessons teach that in a culture of curiosity, you’ll find people are much better equipped to spot smoke before it becomes a fire.
4. Situational Awareness
It’s hard to imagine a game requiring more situational awareness than baseball. You need to make faster, better decisions than your opponents. Split-second choices must take into account the score, the clock, and the most likely response you will trigger. Over years of focused training, they’ve developed the ability to stay one step ahead. They are better at anticipating and acting on opportunities.
Situational awareness is also a business team’s superpower. It brings the benefits of a shared read on what’s happening now and what’s likely to happen next. At Redwood, we create powerful, immersive simulations that help learners build situational awareness in realistic yet safe environments. We find that once learners realize the power of situational awareness, they are eager to strengthen it.
5. Composed, Accountable Leadership
A rock-steady manager sets the tone for the whole team. It must be clear, calm, and never reflect stress or a lack of emotional control. In a World Series game, with so much hanging in the balance, composure and accountability are what control the game. We saw that kind of leadership in John Schneider, and it earned him a nomination for Baseball Manager of the Year!
Great business leaders share many of the same traits, particularly in terms of human skills. They build trust by putting people in the right roles and providing ongoing development opportunities. They create a psychologically safe workplace that allows people to share hard truths. And they incubate innovation by fostering interaction that drives innovation.
Final Thoughts on Blue Jays Business Lessons:
Over the course of the series, the Blue Jays outperformed their rivals in every measurable stat. Not bad for a team many thought would be swept in four. And even if we didn’t get the win, we got the next best thing: A true team performance that started at the bottom and climbed to the top. And we’re all a bit better for having shared the experience.