I am proudly wearing my Twins Cap again. Our beloved Twins, after some bad years, at the writing of this blog have the third best record in the AL. The new manager Paul Molitor has something to do with our resurgence. A Twin Cities sport writer recently wrote, “Paul Molitor is a baseball Hall of Famer whose managerial style is defined by ‘humility'”. Molitor says of himself, “I’ve made many mistakes along the way that I hope, with the things I’ve gone through, I can communicate those to people to help them just become better.” He sees leadership as trying to help his players with their skills and become better persons. He seems to have everyone believing in themselves and each other. That’s a definition of a team.
Molitor is an example of what humility can accomplish in relationships, even among “pampered” young millionaires. Every man is a manger or coach to some degree because of his relationships. Humility is a vital ingredient in these relationships. In the moral ecology of our day, humility among leaders is in short supply. “Over the past several decades we have built a moral ecology around the Big Me” (David Brooks). Genuine humility is more “other” centered then “self” centered. “In humility values others above yourselves, not looking to your own interest but each of you to the interest of the others” (Phil 2:3-4). Others become more important than ourselves.
Men, those around you – your family, co-workers and friends know when you are interest in wanting the very best for them. You can’t do it without humility. So what can we learn from Paul Molitor. I see three ingredients in his comments that can be helpful for us as we “manage” our relationships. First of all, the manager saw himself as a “flawed” man. Having an accurate assessment of yourself makes a man secure in the presence of others. Knowing and acknowledging your “flaws” makes you believable. You can be open, vulnerable and present to others when you are not protecting your secret “flaws.” Especially,teach your children, out of your vulnerability.
Secondly, Molitor wants to pass on what he has learned through his mistakes. Not only should we acknowledge our flaws, but also use them as visuals in telling your story. Each of us has a story, that can breath life into others. Don’t hide your story from others. It is out of your weakness that your real strength is displayed before others. Learn to boast of your weaknesses not your strengths. Paul said, “If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness” (II Cor 11:30). He believed his weaknesses showed God’s power. “I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (II Cor 12:9). Men, vulnerability makes you believable
Thirdly, the manager of the Twins sees his leadership not only as helping players with their skills but also in wanted to make them better persons. Those around you, and especially those who you are responsible for, need you support and encouragement. I assume most of the men who read this blog, are middle-aged. You are at the point in your careers when it is time to give back. You have climbed the tower and had some success. But your achievements are not only about you. Who are the persons, with whom you are to pass on what has been imparted to you. Who has God put in your life to invest in, so that they might become a better persons.
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