From the Bleachers: Hit the Ball Through the Opening
By Dr. Jack Welch
There is something about this time of year that brings both excitement and uncertainty. Fall sports are gearing up. Coaches are putting teams together, teachers are preparing classrooms, and students are getting ready for another school year. Everyone is moving forward, but not everyone knows exactly what lies ahead.
Uncertainty can create fear. Fear can lead to hesitation. Hesitation can lead to indecision.
I recently heard a story about a golfer who was uncomfortable hitting a shot out of the rough, through a narrow opening between trees. He looked at the trees and began focusing on everything that could go wrong. What if he hit a tree? What if the ball went the wrong direction? The more he focused on the obstacles, the more difficult the shot became.
His friend offered a different perspective: Don’t focus on the trees. Imagine yourself hitting the ball through the opening. There is a leadership lesson in that story. The trees represent the problems, mistakes and failures that are always around us. The opening represents where we want to go.
There will be mistakes this fall. Coaches will make decisions that don’t work. Athletes will have bad games. Teachers will have lessons that fall flat. That first-year teacher may walk into the classroom scared half to death, wondering if they are prepared enough. Leaders will make decisions without knowing exactly how everything will turn out.
The answer isn’t to pretend the trees aren’t there. The answer is to keep our eyes on the opening. Leadership doesn’t mean eliminating fear or uncertainty. It means refusing to let them control our decisions. Leaders gather information, seek good counsel, trust their preparation, make the best decision they can and move forward.
As we begin another school year, don’t spend all your time staring at the trees. See the opening. Focus on where you want to go. Then take the swing. You might hit a tree. You might hit a great shot. Either way, you won’t know until you take the swing.
“Fear sees the obstacles. Courage sees the opportunity. Don’t stare at the trees, keep your eyes on the opening and take the swing.” — Dr. Doyle Welch, Pastor
Dr. Jack Welch serves as President of Fort Scott Community College. With a career spanning professional sports, public education, and rural community development, he brings a servant-leader mindset and a passion for building trust-driven cultures that empower people to thrive in the classroom, on the field, and in life. He is also the author of Foundations of Coaching: The Total Coaching Manual.