I was absolutely appalled watching the press conference of the Houston Astros and their owner Jim Crane.
On the first day of MLB’s spring training, I expected (and I believe many others did too) for the owner to stand up there, dressed professionally, and totally own the sign-stealing cheating scandal. For him to maybe say something like this:
“I am sorry for what we’ve done. From myself to the players, all the way down to the batboy, I apologize for our actions and take full responsibility for what happened. I am the proud owner of the Houston Astros and strive for the best, not only for our organization, our players and their families, but also for the MLB, and all those who support the Astros. I know it will take time to heal and I ask for forgiveness from the MLB, all of our colleagues, the team, and certainly the fans. What we did was wrong…we cheated…..and I take full responsibility for what happened. I would also like to personally apologize to all the young fans of the game. This is not the way to go about being a professional ballplayer. I pledge to Astros Nation, all MLB teams, and baseball fans, to make sure nothing like this ever happens again, and that in time, that people will again respect the Astros organization as a top club. Again, I am very sorry for our actions and take full responsibility. I will answer any and all questions at this time.”
However, he didn’t say any of this, not even remotely close. What he did say was: “Our opinion is this didn’t impact the game.”
Own it. Be a leader, be upfront. Be authentic. What he did say was just awful. How could someone in such a prominent position have done such a poor job? People respect him even less now than before.
So what can be the lesson learned for us school leaders? Manage major moments! In times of crisis, get out in front of it. #headlinetest: What will your words and actions look like on the headline of the newspaper the next day? The 6 o’clock news? Be the face. Be visible. Be transparent. Be honest. Be humble. Admit it, fix it, and move on. No one is perfect and mistakes can happen, they do happen, so try to limit them and make corrections when they do…yet just admit what you did. That owner totally flopped and the organization and their fans should be embarrassed not only by what happened but also by how it was handled.
Next time you have a crisis in your building or school district, get out in front of it and LEAD! If I can help you in any way, feel free to reach out @andrewmarotta21
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Quote: “Baseball is about talent, hard work, and strategy. But at the deepest level, it’s about love integrity, and respect.” – Pat Gillick
