Heading into the 9th inning of Game 5 of the 2018 World Series the Boston Red Sox were in need of 3 outs to secure the title. With a 5-1 lead they turned to their 6-6, 180 pound, lanky, monster of an ace pitcher, Chris Sale.

Sale, a 7-time all-star, led the Red Sox to victory in game one of the World Series, and in game 5 they called on him out of the bullpen even though he’s made his money as one of the game’s premier starting pitchers.

What’s so interesting about the 9th inning of Game 5 of the 2018 World Series is less about who got the ball in the biggest moment, and more about who didn’t get the ball - Red Sox star closer, Craig Kimbrel.

The Intoxicating Nature of “Job Titles.”

If Chris Sale is tall and lanky, Craig Kimbrel is short and “stumpy.” Kimbrel, one of the game’s best closers, stands at 5-11 and 215 lbs.

His skill set is to throw hard and to close down games. Every time he touches a baseball, the stakes are “do or die.” He’s made a living being able to get the last three outs of a baseball game. In his career he’s recorded 440 saves (the statistic given to a pitcher who protects a lead of 3 or less in the final inning.) His 440 saves puts him 5th all-time on the baseball record list.

To say he’s one of the best closers of all time would not be an exaggeration.

If Craig Kimbrel is one of the best closers ever, why isn’t he the one exiting the outfield bullpen in Dodger Stadium to seal the World Series for the Boston Red Sox? Why is Chris Sale getting the opportunity to record 3 outs and be the “hero”?

On this late October crisp night, we’re given a masterful case study of true leadership and true high performance.

The ability to remain committed when passed over.

Can you think of a time when you were passed up for an opportunity?

If you’re reading this you’re likely a highly competitive high performer. Your work means a lot to you. You put in hours developing your craft. When was the last time you and someone else were considered for a role, or an assignment, and “coach” chose someone else?

If you re-live that moment in your mind as you’re reading this you may find your heart rate rising. Your body tensing and your emotions starting to run wild.

It is painful to be passed up for something.

For Craig Kimbrel it could have been even more enraging because he’s “The Closer.” His entire job description is to close out games.

“This is what they brought me here for.” Many would think, if in his position.

How off-putting would this have been? How offensive? How often have we seen an athlete sulk or pout in the corner when their name isn’t called?

When our identity is wrapped up in our role, or what we do, we begin to relate to all of life through our success or failure in that role.

Our titles and roles intoxicate us.

And with every social gathering we field questions about “what we do”, “how the season is going” and “what’s next.”

It’s likely Craig Kimbrel spent his whole life dreaming of securing the final 3 outs of the World Series. He reported to Spring Training in February, played 162 games of the regular season, pitched through the playoffs and the first four games of the World Series. Now, in Game 5, they willingly pass on him and select the arm of Chris Sale instead.

If cameras would have caught him sulking in the corner of the bullpen I’m sure to some degree the general public would understand.

Instead where is Craig Kimbrel as Chris Sale exits the bullpen?

He’s in the front row, clapping for him, cheering him on and supporting him. Fully behind him, as he exits the bullpen and runs on the field to do what every pitcher has dreamed of doing since they were a little boy.

He’s cheering on the very person who the staff called on in place of him.

With one image we see the great challenge of being on a team. The invitation to subvert our self-interests for the collective interests of a group.

The opportunity to live out the slogan: “We > Me.”

Oh how that slogan sounds better on t-shirts and bulletin boards than it does in our lives when we’re 8 ft from watching someone do what we we’ve wanted to do.

The Beginning of Leadership & True High Performance

I’ve had the privilege of being a part of a team at some level for 26 consecutive years. From the “Rockies” kid-pitch in the North Columbus Athletic Association in the spring of 1999 through youth and high school sports. Playing as a college athlete in a successful program, then nearly a decade coaching college baseball teams, to the work I do now in-and-out of college athletic teams. I’ve witnessed a lot of teammates over the years.

I’m convinced that at any moment, all teammates behave in one of five states. We’re all operating as a Stealer, Coaster, Riser, Server, or Broker. And more so, every experience we live as a member of a collective team elicits thoughts and emotions inviting us to drift into one of these states.

A stealer finds a way to steal the collective experience and make everything about themselves. They operate out of scarcity, fiercely recruit other team members to join them, and withdraw their energy and commitment when things don’t go their own way.

A coaster operates from careless complacency. They’re apathetic, have lost (or never had) true drive or motivation to be great and have come to view the team experience as merely a social gathering. They’re not ruffling feathers, but they sure aren’t adding much either. They live to fulfill the minimum requirements of the team.

A riser is an emerging talent with a clear growth mindset. They want to achieve their full potential in the service of others. Often they are the best followers first, showcasing detailed discernment in who they follow and hitch their wagon to. While not fully in a leadership capacity, they have a different look in their eye, and every coach I know is excited to see life unfold for the risers on their team.

A server is where leadership really starts. Servant leadership is more than just lending a helping hand here and there, it’s learning the way of life that begins to think and behave in ways that conflict with our own self-interests. It’s Craig Kimbrel clapping for and encouraging the guy who they called on in place of him. Not because he’s not competitive or a warrior, but because he recognizes if Chris Sale wins - they all win.

A broker is a master of influence and leading people. They serve as an intermediary between the people they lead and a life changing, transformative experience. They are arranging deals every day. The only titles they want are “Hope Broker”, “Transformation Broker” “Meaning Broker” “Service Broker.” Their commissions are not material, but the earned inner satisfaction of lives influenced and a life well lived.

We have so reduced the demands of leadership that we have made it only about titles and job descriptions.

We have reduced the concept of high performance to only include individual performance, and self-success.

Leadership and true high performance aren’t just about giving direction and throwing 100 mph, they are about TRULY being all about the team.

How can you tell you are truly all about the team?

All you care about is the group achieving its full potential.
Your daydreams and visions are about collective success and not just you being the hero.
You can honestly say you would be excited to be a champion even if it meant you weren’t on the field when the final out was made.
You do not care what role you have, only that you are getting better and the team is getting better.
You don’t get intoxicated with status, reputation, or vanity metrics and are more concerned with group metrics.
You don’t take personnel decisions as offendable to your confidence, security, and self-worth.
You behave in ways that conflict with your own self-interests.

Chris Sale took the mound to pitch the final inning. He disposed of three straight batters with three straight strikeouts. Justin Turner, Enrique Hernandez and Manny Machado all down in order. The Boston Red Sox were 2018 World Champions.

The Red Sox, along with Craig Kimbrel rushed the field.

Was he pouting, sulking or melancholy? Not at all.

Craig Kimbrel didn’t seem to be bothered at all by the 9th inning decision (pictured celebrating with his daughter Lydia Joy after Chris Sale’s dominant inning). A fitting moment after choosing joy in seeing a teammate succeed.