The Soft Skills Of Tony LaRussa

Baseball legend Tony La Russa announced his retirement as manager of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011 just three days after the Cardinals won the World Series, La Russa’s retirement followed an impressive, 16-year career with the Cardinals and 33-season career in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was also the third winningest manager in MLB history—behind only Connie Mack and John McGraw.

You don’t have to be a Cardinals fan (or even a baseball fan) to appreciate the success and longevity of La Russa’s career. He had what all leaders strive to and rarely attain—the perfect balance of “hard” and “soft” skills. Amid today’s fast-paced nature of business, it’s more common for leaders to focus on their “hard” skills—the level of education they’ve earned, the number of victories they’ve secured—than their “soft” skills, or people skills. It’s a trend that’s been emphasized repeatedly in media headlines—employees are experiencing less job satisfaction and engagement as their employers focus solely on company analytics instead of developing their people.

However the “soft” skills—relationship building, empathy and the ability to influence and inspire—are vital to building a highly engaged and successful environment, whether on a team or within the workplace. La Russa mastered the “hard” skills—he earned a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Florida State University College of Law, studied extensively in preparation for games and executed intricate game plans. But what made him truly successful were his “soft” skills. One renowned player, Albert Pujols, said La Russa “is not only my manager; he’s like a daddy to me.” Never lacking respect among his players, La Russa inspired his players to do what they didn’t think they were capable of, often transforming discouraged players into local heroes. In addition, he was constantly protective of his team and would not back down from the competition or detractors in the press, telling one reporter “I’m not saying I’m smarter than you, but I know our club a lot better than you do.”

That is how La Russa commanded the respect of his players and left his mark as the third winningest coach in professional baseball. No matter what the profession, having the ability to continually plan and prepare while motivating and inspiring those around you, as La Russa did, adds up to a winning formula—both inside and outside of the ballpark.

--Adapted from an article written by Dr. Paul H. Eccher, co-author of Optimizing Talent: What Every Leader and Manager Needs to Know to Sustain the Ultimate Workforce (Contemporary Trends in Organization Development and Change)

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