As a newcomer to the Boston area I rejoiced on Friday night when the Red Sox clinched the division championship in the Eastern baseball league. I started reading about how the Red Sox evolved from worst to first in just a year. With many players upping their game this season, this turnaround could teach us lessons on organizations and leadership.

This team is without superstars, sports commentator Glenn Stout said. It exported its star players to the LA Dodgers last year. And without too much pressure at the season’s beginning, remaining players started improving. They became a cohesive team, partly also due to the marathon bombings in April. That Boston tragedy gave the Red Sox the extra purpose to support the city’s recovery. “We all love each other, and we play for each other”, said first baseman Mike Napoli during Friday night’s celebration. And the players grow beards together, which they tug in a sign of camaraderie.

One lesson from this is that taking some dominant personalities away can raise the effectiveness of a team in certain situations. Continue reading →