When I started my college baseball career, my primary position was as a catcher. However, I quickly learned that I did not have the skill set required to be an everyday catcher in college. To find more playing time, I took advantage of every opportunity to learn and play new positions. My senior year, I played games in left field, right field, third base, first base, and designated hitter. I was eager to play whatever position the team needed me to play for us to win. I did not let my ego or the attitude that I can only play one position stop me from getting on the field and gaining more playing time. The ability and willingness to play multiple positions allowed me to receive more playing time. Further, the ability to play various positions benefitted the team because I could play wherever the team needed me the most.
When planning and executing a large mission in the Navy, there was one Mission Commander who oversaw the whole process from the planning to the debrief of the mission. Additionally, several experienced F/A-18 experts would plan specific subsets of the mission. In every planning event, there is a myriad of un-glorified tasks that must be accomplished for the mission to be a success. As a young officer, I learned that by volunteering and completing these unenviable tasks led to you gaining the respect of the senior officers and often getting called upon to have a role in the flight. As I found in baseball, having a utility player mindset and taking on whatever role the team needs, leads to the success of the team and an opportunity to ‘play’ in the big game.
The utility players in sports and business may not garner the most significant contracts, but having utility players on your business team is essential. You need team members that are willing to take on the unglamorous tasks and can seamlessly move from one role to another depending on the needs of the business. When you are building a business team, you want a Mission Commander and All-Stars to lead the group, but you must incorporate utility players because they will be the glue of the team.
Authored By: Fletcher Vynne, former F/A-18 Super Hornet Weapon Systems Officer