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Management Wisdom from the New York Yankees' Dynasty

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Management Wisdom from the New York Yankees' Dynasty

What Every Manager Can Learn from a Legendary Team

Lance Berger, Dorothy Berger,

15 min read
9 take-aways
Audio & text

What's inside?

The New York Yankees can show you a few things on the field and off, like how to build a winning team.

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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Analytical
  • Concrete Examples
  • Engaging

Recommendation

The New York Yankees are one of the most successful teams in sports history, a hugely profitable enterprise and a model of excellence. In this in-depth, business-oriented look at baseball’s most storied franchise, author Lance A. Berger, writing with Dorothy R. Berger, suggests that any business interested in achieving greatness should study the Yankees’ management techniques. He cites having a bigger payroll than other teams and using that money to secure top talent, but the lessons go well beyond that. People who follow both business and baseball – Yankees fans, in particular – will appreciate this analysis. The book dates to 2005, so its baseball stats aren’t up to date, but its management advice is a home run. 

Summary

Establish strong leadership as the basis of your team’s character and achievements.

The most influential owners in the history of the New York Yankees – Jacob Ruppert, Del Webb, Dan Topping and George Steinbrenner – were successful businessmen before they entered the sports arena. They understood that the qualities most pertinent to success in the corporate world also applied to owning a Major League Baseball team. First and foremost, the Yankees’ owners have always expected to win; failure – or even second place – was never an option. This philosophy permeates the organization. Even locker room attendants develop a sense of “Yankee Pride:” Everyone is focused on winning a world championship.

Through the years, Yankees’ owners have shared several traits: They all knew how to make a profit, assemble an organization and apply the rules of baseball, on and off the field. The team’s management has hinged on hiring competent individuals for senior executive positions, including president and general manager. The owners carefully selected executives who shared their philosophies, values and work ethic. They hired leaders who knew their ...

About the Authors

Lance A. Berger is a management consultant for Fortune 500 companies and has served as a consultant to Major League Baseball. Change management consultant Dorothy R. Berger manages the couple’s consultancy and is production editor of The Change Magazine. Together, the Bergers produced The Talent Management Handbook, The Change Management Handbook and The Compensation Handbook, and they co-authored  Deengineering the Corporation with Martin J. Sikora.

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