After months of turmoil and no direction from the top, the Los Angeles Dodgers have righted the ship and now have a committed leadership group to chart the course. Interestingly enough, the Dodgers had plenty of suitors who were willing to invest “big bucks” for the right to attempt to fix one of the most dysfunctional management teams in the history of sport. The proud franchise that brought you Sandy Koufax, Steve Garvey, Don Drysdale, Maury Wills et.al, had become the central figure in the marital problems of Frank and Jamie McCourt and a prime example of how unfocused leadership will bring down any organization.
Now the Dodgers have made a 180 degree turn with a leadership team that fits together perfectly. Each of the three primary players in management have unique skills and experiences that meet the three most critical needs of the Dodger organization. Every leadership teams should want to create an environment that allows the talents of the inner circle of decision makers to be maximized. Looking at the Dodgers ownership trifecta, the talents fit together perfectly.
Magic Johnson’s personality and public persona is the perfect face for the organization. The former Laker icon is respected and loved by the entire Southern California community. He transcends ethnicity, religion and race and will be able to rally a declining fan base with his energy and enthusiasm. His stature as one of the greatest athletes of the 20 th century will assure every Dodger player that the organization is focused on winning championships and playing at the highest level. Additionally by having Magic as part of the team, there is a huge benefit having a public spokesman that is well-respected by the media while having total access to television, radio and every communication platform internationally.
The second piece of the puzzle is having the financial resources to acquire the necessary assets and Mark Walters, the CEO of Guggenheim Partners, fulfills that need. As the controlling partner, Walters and Guggenheim’s deep pockets allow the baseball operation the money to make moves quickly. As the CEO of one of the top financial management firms in the world, Walters will insure sound fiscal management with a clear understanding that success breeds profits.
Maybe the most important member of the leadership team is Stan Kasten, the baseball guy. With a resume that includes being the man in charge of the Atlanta Braves from 1987 to 2003 when the Braves won more games than any other club, the Dodger have one of the most respected and successful baseball executives calling the day to day shots. Kasten, who also has been the president of Hawks, Thrashers and the Washington Nationals, has seen it all and has a vast resource of experience and contacts necessary to build the actual Dodger management team.
Great teams have players who compliment each other and have different talents that fit together to allow each to focus on their individual strengths. This leadership group fits together like a glove. When you put together your team, take a page out Magic, Walters and Kasten’s group, find individuals who have all the important skill sets that fit together to allow each to be the most productive they can be and create that overused but very important word---SYNERGY. Look for the LA Dodgers to become a force in the very near future.
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