A few weeks ago, I shared my insights from coaching my oldest son in kid-pitch baseball for the first time – 3 important mindset shifts for surgical counselors.
I also coach my younger son’s coach-pitch all-star baseball team, and yesterday they won their first gold ring. (Let’s GO!)
I coach my son’s all-star baseball team, and yesterday they won their first gold ring.
It was a valiant effort, playing 3 games in 110-degree weather. They Aledo Orange 8U All-Stars earned their tournament win.
One aspect of their play really stood out to me. It’s a great reminder for me in biz and life, and I wanted to share it with you to kick off your week.
Our team won the gold rings because they played 3 Complete Games.
What do I mean by that? Well, normally when you have kids this age – even if they’re really good – you’re gonna hit an inning or two where the wheels look like they’re falling off. You make a bunch of errors, other team scores a bunch of runs, etc.
And you just hope it doesn’t happen at the WRONG time, and that it doesn’t cost you the game.
We never had that yesterday (super rare). They played 3 complete games with dominance – infield got outs, outfield caught fly balls, hitters hit, baserunners ran smart. And our boys were able to beat 3 solid teams by 10+ runs each because they played complete games.
The “Complete Game” analogy is vital if you want a successful, growing practice. And it comes down to each person knowing and playing their roles.
You can think of the Patient Journey like a game. In baseball, it might be a 9-inning game, right? So the 1st inning is the prospect thinking about your procedure, inning 2 they look you up online, inning 3 they call for an appt….
Etc until the 9th inning, when they’re happily referring their friends and family to YOU because you provided awesome care.
Every player on the team has a role in playing a complete game. If our pitcher is throwing strikes but your defense can’t field the ball and get outs, we’re not playing a complete game.
If your front desk is on-point but your technicians are having a bad day and that negativity translates to the patient, you’re not playing a complete game.
And for practices that can’t put together a complete game… well, those 9th inning referrals will go to the competitor down the street. Because the patient chose them instead of you.
The Big Takeaway – It takes an entire team owning their positions to play a complete game.
Wherever you are in your practice, whatever your role is, however big or small you think it is – it’s crucial to winning. So take it seriously and give it 110%.
And I’m not just talking about YOU and YOUR team winning. Because when we play a complete game, the real winner is your patient. Because they are getting excellent care at the best practice in town (yours!)
And if we drop the ball and the patient ends up down the street at a cheap, less-experienced, less-patient-focused provider… sure, we lose some revenue. But the patient loses so much more in terms of the care and results we COULD have given them, had we been on our a-game.
Go out and encourage your team to put together a Complete Game today. 💪🏻
– Coach Cole
PS – If you’re interested in having your team “coached” in the mindset I discuss in these short essays – playing with excellence, owning their roles, being team players, developing a love for the game, dominating the competition, being confident in your premium pricing – hit reply and let’s talk.
PPS – Pic of me and my almost 8 y/o, C.B. (Caden Brave), holding his ring. #ProudDad
