Today is the second inning of The Porch’s baseball series at the start of the 2016 season. Today, we look at “Patient Pondering, then Frantic Action”. So, here is the full line-up for the series:

· First Inning: Everyone has a chance!

· Second Inning: Patient pondering, then frantic action!

· Third Inning: The aggressive team is often the winning team

· Fourth Inning: If you can hit….

· Fifth Inning: Many singles are better than one solo home run

· Sixth Inning: A strong bullpen is key

· Seventh Inning: Time to stretch

· Eighth Inning: Rally time!

· Ninth Inning: “It ain’t over till it’s over”

Baseball is not considered a fast game. It is a thinker’s game. It is one that might last two hours or five hours, depending upon what happens. The longest game in MLB history occurred on May 8, 1984 when the Chicago White Sox beat the Milwaukee Brewers 7-6 in 25 innings. Baseball is a game of strategy where the times of “patient pondering” may outnumber those moments of frantic action by 100:1. For example, the times where the batter or pitcher is getting signs or considering what pitch comes next or how to defend a batter can be literally minutes for one at bat. Yet, the ball might only be active, in play, for 5 seconds. Baseball is a game where patience is critical to avoid significant strategic mistakes and where one bad pitch can doom a game.

Our work is very similar. Planning is crucial. We must know where we want to go, how we’ll get there, and what we’ll do when we arrive there. Thinking through the special circumstances and intricacies is important to ensure we don’t “drop the ball” in critical areas. However, when the pitch is finally made, we need to be ready for action! Someone once said,

“Be decisive. Right or wrong, make a decision. The road of life is paved with flat squirrels who couldn’t make a decision.” – Unknown –

Think it through, consider the risks, mitigate the adverse risks, then, for goodness sake, make a decision and act! Baseball is a slow-paced game, laced with frantic action. The best teams plan, prepare, and act decisively. We need to do the same.

Have a great day! There is still that chance that it could be our best yet!

In honor of the “big inning” (e.g., beginning – get it?) of baseball season, The Porch will feature nine innings of sage baseball advice over the next two or three weeks. Sorry about that for you soccer fans, but, as you know, baseball is the only true sport. And, let’s admit it, I live in St. Louis. So, here is the line-up:

· First Inning: Everyone has a chance!

· Second Inning: Patient pondering, then frantic action!

· Third Inning: The aggressive team is often the winning team

· Fourth Inning: If you can hit….

· Fifth Inning: Many singles are better than one solo home run

· Sixth Inning: A strong bullpen is key

· Seventh Inning: Time to stretch

· Eighth Inning: Rally time!

· Ninth Inning: “It ain’t over till it’s over”

The beginning of baseball season is special. Spring has sprung; flowers are blooming; birds are singing; and everything is fresh and new. The baseball season is long… 162 games, then the playoffs. If you win 100 of those games, you have had a tremendous season. But, on opening day, everyone is even. Everyone has a chance! Hope springs eternal with every baseball fan hoping and wishing that their team will play in the World Series in October. Every player believes this will be his year – the year he truly lives up to his full potential. Optimism is the word of the day!

In the corporate world, we need to occasionally take that same view… spring has sprung and everyone has a chance. Every team has an opportunity to excel. Every individual can have a great season. Everyone deserves a chance to contribute. We often fail to step back and take a fresh look at our work and our coworkers. We frequently see an individual “tagged” as a nominal employee because of an event that occurred ten years ago. Sometimes, this is referred to as the “doofus syndrome”- a bias unfairly assigned to an individual because of one or more prior events.

So, on this fresh spring day, opening day for some, let’s take a new look at our work, our teams, and our teammates. Everyone has a chance to be great! Everyone has a chance to win! Everyone has a chance to have a best day or best year! Think about what you can do to make today a special new start for someone or something. You would appreciate that fresh start for yourself, I’m sure.

Thanks for all you do. Have an All-Star day! Batter up!

There are many things that make baseball special.  It has a long and colorful history.  It is a leisurely game that allows the spectator time to watch, discuss, and savor (to the unsophisticated, this makes baseball boring).  But, one thing that makes it unique is that it is not timed, or played against the clock.  For other sports, such as football, soccer, and basketball, a large lead near the end of the game can be insurmountable simply because time will run out.  Not so, in baseball.  Baseball must be played to the final out.  Many games that are seemingly in hand are lost in the last inning.  Thus, you must be persistent and play with focus and vigor to the very end.

Our work in compliance-related industries is very similar.  There is never a time when we can say, “Time to relax, the game is won.”  A momentary lack of focus or inattention to detail can result in an injury, lost batch of product, or recall.  And, just like in baseball, a single person that fails to perform properly can turn the entire conclusion from “compliant” to “noncompliant.”  For those of you that have had the privilege of participating in an FDA, OSHA, or DEA inspection, you know that many of the records reviewed were completed months earlier.  The investigator will ultimately render a decision on our state of compliance based on how well every individual in the organization fulfilled requirements, followed procedures, and documented their actions.  A single error might completely change the outcome of the inspection.

So, a significant part of our job as leaders of compliance functions is to ensure that every participant remains persistent to the end.  We must ensure that every employee maintains the right level of focus to fulfill every activity with timeliness and accuracy.  Attention to detail to the very end of the game is critical.  Then, when the game is over, we can enjoy pizza and relax.  Creating the environment that allows and ensure that we persist to the end may determine our ultimate success.

Have an awesome day and thanks for everything you do to create and maintain a culture of compliance!

 

This week, we have looked at the links between business and baseball for teamwork, the basics, individual skill development, and, today, we look at the importance of coaching.  A baseball coach (or manager) performs many critical functions that essentially allow the team to perform at its maximum capability.  So, what are those critical coaching functions and how do they relate to what we do in business?  Take a look below.

A high-performing coach/manager/leader:

1. Establishes strategic direction – In baseball, the coach/manager may take an aggressive approach regarding baserunning, or defensive positioning, or use of the bullpen.  In short, the coach/manager establishes the approach to be used to achieve the goal of winning games.  In the same way, leaders in our company must set the tone for how we will achieve our objectives.  We must determine how our teams will be organized, who will do what, and when.  We must determine how project assignments will be made, key priorities, and how resources will be used.  As a key leader in our organization, are you providing the direction needed for your team to be most effective?
2. Manages tactical (day-to-day) details – In baseball, the coach/manager must determine how the details of the game will be managed.  For example, a coach/manager will determine when the batter should bunt or when the runner should steal.  However, the coach/manager must allow enough freedom for the players to most effectively use their talents.  A coach/manager cannot decide for the batter whether to swing except in rare cases.  The play must use his own skills to make those decisions.  In the same way, an effective leader sets the tone, but allows the team members enough freedom to make day-to-day decisions regarding their jobs.  Over-managing (e.g., micromanaging) limits the creative abilities of the individual, stifles progress, and dis-engages the individual.  Take a look at your own management/leadership style.  Are you over-managing?  Is your team limited because you cannot delegate key day-to-day responsibilities?
3. Provides performance feedback – A great coach provides feedback on performance every game.  This helps the player make adjustments before the next game.  Likewise, a great leader provides continuous feedback to team members.  Routine feedback tells an individual what is working well and what is not.  It helps the individual modify behaviors, when needed, to maximize results the next time.  Do you, as a leader, make it a habit to provide feedback to your team members?  Could more frequent feedback help drive that steady progress we desire?  If the only feedback you give is at the end of the year, that is too late to help your team member.
4. Drives continuous improvement – Great baseball teams and individuals continuously strive for improvement.  And, a great leader drives this.  Are you encouraging and helping to drive continuous improvement.  Are you satisfied with the status quo?  What are you doing today to make your team better than it was yesterday (you have to be specific)?
5. Encourages and motivates – Many baseball coaches are rah-rah types that encourage and motivate with passion.  Others quietly do it and just as effectively.  Don’t try to alter your style of leadership to match someone else.  You are who you are!  But, one way or another, find a way to let your team members know how you feel about them.  Encourage them regularly.  Help them see the progress they are making and the value they are adding.
6. Ensures that mistakes drive learning – Everyone makes mistakes, even professional baseball players.  A mistake, when used properly, can be the very best learning tool we’ll ever experience.  Learn from these situations.  Use them to prevent a similar future event.
7. Solicits feedback and reacts – A good coach/manager will seek the opinion of others – other coaches, former mentors, experts, more experienced coaches, and, occasionally, his own players.  Likewise, we need to be open to the opinion of others.  We need to be willing to admit that we can learn from the experience of others.  Do you frequently and willingly seek the opinion of others?  One way to do this goes like this, “I have this situation that I am dealing with.  My current thought is to deal with it by _________.  Have you experienced anything in your past similar?  How did you handle it?  Am I completely off base with the approach I’m considering?”  Give it a try.  You’ll be surprised at the terrific feedback you get in return.
8. Encourages innovation and individuality – Baseball is an individual performance game played in the context of a team.  Similarly, our teams may function in the same way.  Not every individual learns in the same way.  Not every individual works at the same pace.  Not everyone thinks in straight lines.  It is often because of the individuality of our team members that our team performs so well.  Are you seeking the individual contributions that each member of your team might contribute?  Do you treat every member the same?  Is there any way you can better solicit the innovation from team members?
9. Establishes boundaries – A baseball coach/manager must establish limits and boundaries for his team members.  For example, most coaches/managers limit when an individual may steal second base.  Many managers limit the number of pitches or innings a pitcher may pitch.  We must also establish boundaries for our teams and members.  We must communicate our vision of the box in which they are to operate (that is, you can operate in the way you feel best within these boundaries, but you must discuss with me anything outside these boundaries).  We actually help our employees operate with freedom when they clearly know what decisions they can make and which must include you.
10. Achieves winning results – A great coach/manager is a winner!  A coach/manager can do everything right, but if he does not win games, he cannot be consider great.  In the same way, we must never lose sight of our goal – and that is to achieve the results our senior management team expects.

In baseball, the coach or manager sets the tone and direction for the team.  In the business world, everyone that serves as a team leader or team member (e.g., all of us) should understand how great teams achieve great results.  By understanding and applying these principles, we improve our chances of producing winning results.   The key question is this, “What are you doing to make your team better?”  No matter what team we are on, no matter what our title might be, no matter how long we have been with the company, there is something each of us can do to make our team better.  So, the challenge is this…. Do one thing every day to make your team more successful.  Are you willing to accept this challenge?

 

 

 

Baseball is a game of individual skills played in a team environment.  Baseball players must play both offense and defense and individual skills on both sides differentiate the average player from the exceptional.  Top-level players continue to develop and improve their skills throughout their careers.  Pitchers are continually learning new pitches.  Players continuously work to improve defensive skills and enhance hitting skills.  Top players are involved in year-round conditioning today that enhance strength, flexibility, and endurance.  Players that fail to improve typically have very short careers.

With baseball as our model, individual skills enhancement is important for us, as well.  Even the best employee can become mediocre if he/she fails to enhance skills over time.  Times change; technology changes; we must change and improve, too.  I was in a Best Buy electronics store a few days ago.  There was one entire section with no products at all… the camcorder section.  It was still labeled, but no products were on display.  The evolution of the camcorder is a great example on how things can change and how we can become obsolete if we do not enhance our skills.  I remember buying our first camcorder.  It was a large, heavy item so large and bulky that it required a shoulder bag to hold it.  However, it did take decent videos of school concerts, soccer games, birthday parties, and vacations.  The camcorder evolved over time to smaller and smaller units.  And, their price decreased by around 70 – 90% over a period of 20 years or so.  Within the last couple of years, a camcorder could be purchased for a couple hundred dollars that was the size of a small camera.  The quality of videos was terrific.  However, Best Buy didn’t have any of these when I visited the other day.  People have replaced camcorders with their smart phones.  The ability to use a smart phone to create videos is almost a free add-on for phones today.  Why buy and use a separate camcorder when you have a perfectly suitable one in your pocket?  Camcorders have come and gone within my adult lifetime!  They are obsolete!

We can become obsolete if we do not evolve.  We must continually work to enhance our skills.  We need to become more flexible.  We need to become experts in not just one area, but in several areas.  Just like the major league pitcher striving to learn a new pitch, we must be continually refining and expanding our abilities.  The better we become, the more value we add to our patients and our company.

I hope you each hit a home run today!  And, don’t be a camcorder!

 

 

Someone once said (sorry, I could not find who said this), “Baseball is just running and hitting and throwing. What is so hard about that?” When broken down into its basic pieces, that is really all that baseball is… physically! There is much, much more than that, however, for those that play the game well. Baseball is known as a game of intricacies. Some call it a game of thinking. Others have said that you can see a game every day for 50 years and still see something new and learn something every day.

The business world, especially in a pharmaceutical company, is similar in a lot of ways. What are our basics? I can name a few:

• Documentation – meticulously creating, retaining, reviewing, and approving the recorded proof that we follow cGMP requirements – examples include: batch records, analytical data, log books
• Following procedures – adhering to the procedures or methods or instructions provided – examples include: following SOPs/batch records/work instructions/methods, training,
• Product protection – ensuring that nothing unwanted can enter or contaminate our products – examples include: closed systems, cleaning systems/procedures/validation, gowning
• Developing robust products and processes – ensuring that the products, processes, and equipment we use will operate accurately, repeatably, and as designed – examples include: process design/batch records, product design space, process capability, maintenance, reliability, automation/fool-proofing
• Identifying and mitigating risks – determining what can go wrong and implementing steps to prevent it – examples include: redundant systems, inspection systems, validation, verification, qualification
• Finding, identifying, eliminating, and preventing problems – monitoring processes in ways that allow us to observe or predict when things could go wrong, then preventing their recurrence – examples include: trend analysis, metrics, investigations, CAPA

Certainly, these are just a few of the key basics that apply to our business, but these likely apply most to the regulated industry audience. So, all we have to do is these 6 things to perform well. Sounds simple. However, we all know that each item above requires extensive knowledge, ongoing oversight, diligence, attention to detail, and commitment. To do all this well day-to-day is a remarkable task. But, when you consider the life-saving and life-changing products we provide, it is worth it.

Thank you for doing the “basics” of our business so well! Have a great day!

 

 

I love baseball!  To me, it is the only true sport.  I started playing baseball when I was 3 or 4 years old and played in college, then softball for over 30 years after that.  I coached teams for my kids and others.  Now, as you can see from the photo, I remain a St. Louis Cardinals fan and collect baseball memorabilia.  So, it seems only fitting to declare this “Baseball Week at The Porch”.  Several items this week will explore the link between baseball, compliance, and leadership.  (I always like to say that everything in life can be explained either by baseball or Country and Western music, but we’ll stick to baseball this week.)  Today, we look at teamwork.

Baseball is considered a team sport.  All members of the team win or lose together.  Even if you, as an individual, hit four home runs and your team loses, you are still a loser.  However, developing high-level individual skills is also important.  So, how does teamwork in baseball link with teamwork?  I’m glad you asked:

1. For a team to function at a high level, each individual member must do his/her job – My 7-year old grandson plays on a tee-ball team.  It is funny to watch kids that age play baseball.  When someone hits the ball, everyone on the field tends to migrate to the ball.  And, as a result, chaos ensues.  High-performing teams hold individual members accountable for performing at a high level.  It is imperative that we focus on our part of the team’s job first, rather than worry how a teammate might have muffed that last ground ball.  So, performing well as an individual is a key precursor to performing well as a team.
2. The individuals on the very best teams, support each other member… win or lose – Supporting your teammates does NOT mean doing the job a teammate should be doing.  The first baseman on a baseball team cannot shift to shortstop and leave his responsibilities unattended.  But, he can encourage his teammates whether or not they success as individuals.  Support, encouragement, and, when needed, providing advice based on your experience or abilities can assist a teammate.  Ridicule, scorn, and expressing frustration at teammates will not result in improvement.
3. The best teams develop their own methods of communication that helps drive success – Major league baseball teams have intricate methods for communicating.  Catchers and pitchers communicate through signals.  Infielders provide signals to the outfielders.  Coaches provide words or signals from the dugout.  Coaches inform batters through signals.  And, the ultimate communication tool is the scoreboard – that always provides a live indicator of performance.  Great teams do the same thing.  Individual members develop communication means to inform others.  Supervisors communicate events, schedules, etc.  Dashboards provide real-time performance results.  All of these work together to help members modify performance and action to yield the best possible result.
4. High-performing teams plan and prepare well – The very best major league teams invest heavily in reviewing videotapes, statistics, and trends for opponents.  This can provide an edge when the difference between success and failure is razor thin.  It is not enough to simply show up ten minutes before the game and expect to perform at your best.  For our teams, planning and preparation are equally important.  As someone once said, “Plan the work and work the plan.”  Good advice!
5. The proper use of metrics can drive improved performance for the best teams – Just like high-level baseball teams monitor key metrics and trends, it is important that we monitor and understand the drivers that impact our performance.  Knowing the “score” can help us determine if changes are needed or if we need to modify our behaviors.
6. Continuous improvement drives the best teams – No high-level, high-performing (these are different, you know) baseball team feels that the status quo is acceptable.  The best continue to practice, continue to assess, and continue to improve.  Teams that don’t improve, can expect to see a decline in performance, especially when compared to their competition.
7. Successful teams celebrate success – Have you seen how excited teams get when they win the World Series?  That is a celebration!  In the same way, we need to take the time to recognize excellent performance and celebrate those wins we get.  For example, do we frequently celebrate our best yet cycle time performance?  How about a week without an Exception in an area?  How about when we complete a particularly difficult project?  Sometimes, these celebrations can motivate the team to an even better performance the next time.

So, how does your team stack up to these seven criteria?  Is there an item on the list that could benefit your team if done better?  What can you do, as an individual, to help your team improve or perform better?  Taking the time to even read this has been wasted unless you see a nugget here that you will act upon to better your team or yourself.

Have a “top ten” day!

 

 

Yes, I do realize this is not Mother’s Day Weekend coming up. However, I have been impacted this week by my discussions with our working mother coworkers.  I have spoken to at least ten just this week that expressed the challenges – not complaints – of being everything at work, yet caring for their loved ones.  Not one of these wonderful women expressed regrets and each one expressed their love for their children and the lives they have.  I truly admire each of you that work so hard to balance doing your best work in both phases of your lives.  Today, we pay tribute and give our thanks to you!

Yesterday on The Porch, I spoke of our destiny and how we have an opportunity to shape it. As parents, we know and understand that a significant part of our destiny and our ultimate legacy is embedded in our children and our grandchildren.  The legacy we leave can impact, literally, generations forward.  Ladies, please feel honored for what you are doing to pour your lives – the very best you have – into those future generations.  You are shaping the world and making a difference every single day.

Sure, you sometimes….

• Feel frustrated when the “big meal of the day” is a burger and fries from a fast food shop once again
• Wonder when that day will come when your children tell you how blessed they are to have you
• Wish for once that that non-working mother down the street could have your schedule for just one week – would she still shake her head when she sees you flying out of the house late again?
• Hate the fact that your car floorboard has more than a large order of fries bouncing around
• Regret having to take your baby to the sitter with a dirty diaper for the third time this week
• Would like, just once, to sleep for 12 hours uninterrupted by crying, bad dreams, or an alarm clock
• Think you might be the only mother that ever tells her teenagers “no” on anything
• Wonder why you even have a TV or bought that new book or keep paying for Netflix – you never have time for any of them
• Wish you could stay late or come in early to finish a project, but you will just try to fit it in after the kids are asleep or get up at 3am to get it done
• Think you should eat better, but you feel satisfied to just eat what’s available when you can squeeze it in
• Feel guilty when you can’t tuck your child in at night because you have to travel again
• Wish that men shared more of the burden, cared more for you, or appreciated the personal sacrifices you make each day
• Think that time will never move fast enough
• Believe only your teenagers must have a dress code
• Remember those days when you could go out with your husband or girlfriends without feeling you needed to hurry home
• Look forward to those days when life slows down and gets more simple

Well, time does pass. Someone once said about the days when you have small children at home, “The days are long, but the years are fast.”  How true that is!  I remember one year that my wife and I attended 160+ events with our children (ballgames, concerts, etc.) and we longed for the day when we had two free evenings in a row.  Then, when the kids were gone, we looked at each other and said, “We sure wish we had a ballgame to go to tonight.”

Ladies, there is a payback for your work and efforts and sacrifice. Those children do eventually grow up and you do eventually get more time for yourself.  But, in the meantime, please know that you are doing the most important work in the entire world.  So, today, The Porch says thanks… you are honored… you are cherished… and, you are blessed.  Hang in there, keep smiling, and remember that your work is critical.  May today be your very best yet!

Depending upon your age, you may or may not have thought about your destiny.  Destiny is that event or series of events that will shape your future.  So, do you know what you will be doing or thinking or involved in or with or whatever next year or 5 years from now?  Some might confuse destiny with legacy.  Destiny is what lies ahead, while legacy is what you leave behind.

Is it possible to shape your own destiny?  Certainly, there are things in the future that are beyond your control.  You may not be able to control the direction our company may take.  You may not be able to make choices for your family members.  But, we all do have some actions we can take to shape our attitude, our morale, our approach, our behavior, and, essentially, how we live.  Gandhi has some thoughts about how we can start with our thoughts to modify or alter our ultimate destiny:

Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words;

Keep your words positive because your words become your behavior;

Keep your behavior positive because your behavior becomes your habits;

Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values;

Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.

                                                 –  Mahatma Gandhi –  

Gandhi believed that a progression exists that leads from our thoughts to behavior to habits to values, then, ultimately, to our destiny.  I believe that establishing solid values is critical to a positive destiny.  Values are those items that you will never compromise, no matter what circumstances might arise.  For example, an individual with a value of integrity would never cross that line for money.  However, an individual that values wealth over all else would have no problem acting without integrity to advance his/her wealth.  Established values direct what you will do, say, or how you will act in any situation.  Thus, they can help define your destiny.

So, the question for today… Not knowing what the future holds, can you still choose your destiny?  Can you direct your life in a way the shapes your very future?  I’ll just leave that for you to ponder.

Have a fantastic day!

 

 

I have a small booklet titled, Never Confuse a Memo with Reality: And Other Business Lessons Too Simple Not to Know. It was written by Richard A. Moran and has 361 helpful hints in it that the author hopes will make us more successful. Anyway, I am listing a few here today with more to come in the future. Find one or more that hits home for you:

1. Use the word “paradigm” no more than once a week.
2. Written visions, missions, and goals are not as important as knowing what you’re supposed to do when you show up in the morning.
3. When someone tells you these are the best years of your life, believe it and act accordingly. They are.
4. Brag about someone to another person; that someone is bound to find out.
5. Never take a problem to your boss without some solutions. You are getting paid to think, not to whine.
6. Believe that change can happen, even after overwhelming evidence says things never seem to get better.
7. Share the credit for successful projects and make sure everyone’s supervisor knows of everyone’s contribution.
8. Understand the skills and abilities that differentiate you from everyone else. Whenever you have the opportunity, use them.
9. Never in your life say, “It’s not my job.”
10. Being good is important; being trusted is essential.

Think about how you might use one of these nuggets of advice today. And, have a fabulous day!