Perfection in Mistake

I am sure that you have heard about Major League Baseball umpire Jim Joyce's mistake that cost Detroit Tiger pitcher Armando Galarraga a perfect game.  In case you haven't, Galarraga had pitched 8 and 2/3 of a perfect game.  The final batter grounded to first base, the first baseman fielded the ball and threw to Galarraga about a step and half ahead of the runner.

All that we needed for the third perfect game of the season was an out sign.  Instead, Joyce signaled safe.  Later he would say, I thought he was safe up until the time I saw the replay. "I just cost that kid a perfect game."   Galarraga was equally gracious in his attitude in forgiving Joyce.  As one ESPN reporter said, there was no perfect game tonight, but we had a lot of perfect moments.  What can we learn?

1.  Mistakes are going to happen.  I believe that there has been one perfect man walk on earth 2000 years ago.   That means that the rest of us will make mistakes.  How we handle those mistakes goes a long way to determine our legacy.

Now Joyce really did not have much of a choice because of the re-plays that game footage offered.  At the same time, he immediately owned the mistake and faced Galarraga and his teammates, the crowd, the media, etc.  You and I don't have instant replay to spotlight our mistakes.  But I am willing to bet that we have all had that moment when we realized we were wrong, our reaction talks about our character.  Do we own our mistake or do we try to rationalize?

2.  What about when someone else makes a mistake?  Last week we had a small issue around the station.  I asked the person who was in charge of the situation what happened?  She looked me right in the eye and said, I made a mistake and it is fixed.  As a leader, that is really all you can ask.  She owned the mistake and fixed it.

3.  Put the mistake in perspective.  I think Jim Joyce's mistake was actually good for baseball.  I know it sounds weird.  But give me a second here.  The sport, I love by the way, has had a lot of bad press. Steroids, former stars lying to congress, and tell all books, just to name a few.  This story is about character, honesty, and doing the right thing.  The next time a mistake is made on your team, look for the learning opportunity.

Remember, if you have a team who is afraid to make mistakes, you will have team who is under achieving.  Have a great week. 

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