Clueless Joe and The Performer's Mind
On November 2, 1995, future hall of fame manager Joe Torre was announced to be the next leader of the New York Yankees.
Prior to becoming the manager of the Yankees, Joe Torre managed 14 years for three different clubs and had a losing record while never making the playoffs. Many questioned his selection as the Yankees new manager.
The New York media had a field day.
Here is the front page of the New York Daily News sports section. Ian O’Connor writes a scathing article that “Joe has no idea what he’s getting into.”
Joe Torre would go on to lead the Yankees for 12 seasons, winning 1,173 games, 10 American League East titles, 6 world series appearances and 4 world series championships.
It worked out well for “Clueless Joe.”
If you’re going to be in any meaningful role, criticism is a part of the deal. The question becomes, what relationship are you going to let your mind have with external noise and criticism?
In my work with athletes and coaches in high stakes roles, we talk a lot about “The Performer’s Mind.”
The Performer’s Mind
The concept of “The Performer's Mind” is rooted in a broad perspective of the arena. When we zoom out we see there are all kinds of perspectives and stakeholders present in the arena. We’ve got,
The actual performer (In this case Joe Torre).
Performers on the other team
Performers on Joe’s team
The media
Parents and loved ones
Fans and spectators
Mascots
Concession Workers
Security Personnel
Each and every role is allowed to let their mind go wherever it wants to go, except for one.
The performer’s mind cannot go wherever it wants to go.
The media member’s mind can make judgments and opinions about what they think is going to happen - the performer’s mind can’t.
The fans and spectators can render judgment in their pursuit of being entertained - the performer’s mind can’t.
The performer’s mind is the only mind in the scene that has to remain narrowly focused on the task at hand. All of the others’ have the privilege to make judgments, write articles, form opinions, eat popcorn - because they are not the performer in the arena, they’re merely spectators of the arena.
Where Each Mind Typically Is
In the same arena, every mind is having a different experience.
The Fan’s Mind:
Seeking to be entertained, thinks they're invested but really they are bystanders to the competition (customers).
The Media’s Mind:
Also bystanders, gathering data to create content so as to not get fired from job/livelihood
The Performer’s Mind:
Active participant. Fully immersed in the competitive performance process.
The Performer’s Mind must:
Be solely present on the task at hand
Be fully immersed in the relational dynamics of leadership and performance
Have a well-developed performance plan and process
Concentrate limited internal resources on things within their control.
Where is your mind lately?
Whatever “arena” you compete in, there are many minds in play.
The central task for a flourishing leader is to ensure their mind is right-sized and fit for the demands of their role. It can be easy to allow your mind to drift to perspectives reserved for other roles or to direct a lot of energy about what someone else’s mind is thinking, but you can’t.
All you’ve got is your own mind.
Is it concentrated on being fully immersed in the present moment?
Are you thinking like a spectator when you’re actually the performer?
Are you overly frustrated by an opinion from someone who’s actually a spectator of your performance and not central to your performance?
Whether you’re highly regarded or “Clueless Joe”, the standard doesn’t change for the performer’s mind.
Everyone else gets to watch. You have to perform.
Stay The Course,
