[Flash] Shoe-Shifting in the Little League

An ugly trend of hostility directed at umpires has recently caused many volunteers to quit.

The Little League officials in Deptford Township, New Jersey, felt compelled to act.

But instead of penalizing a parent, they devised an unconventional solution to decrease the animosity and increase the empathy for umpires: make the parent umpire a game.

Insubordinate parents will walk in the umpire’s proverbial shoes – “shoe-shifting.”

According to the town’s new Little League rule, if a parent or spectator fights with an umpire, they must volunteer to officiate for at least three upcoming games.

“You’re not allowed to come onto our complex until you complete three umpire assignments. Once you do that, we’ll let you return,” explained Deptford Township Little League President Don Bozzuffi.

When parents discover what it’s like to be an umpire, they will be more inclined to shift their behavior back in the stands.

Many leaders are similarly expanding their perspective through shoe-shifting experiences:

• Uber CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, completed 100 rides and deliveries as an undercover Uber driver to understand and address the issues with their driver’s app.
• Committed to staying connected with the company’s culture, customers, and employees, the new CEO of Starbucks, Laxman Narasimhan, earned a barista certification and announced his plan to work as a barista a half day per month.
• Hyatt Hotel Corporation launched “Hyatt in Touch Day” in 1989, a yearly ritual in which they dispatch corporate employees to Hyatt hotels around the country to join the staff and work the hotel.
• CEO of 7-Eleven, Joe DePinto, went undercover as a store clerk for a week to discover the people who serve the customers. Through this adventure, he uncovered many opportunities to improve the stores and invest in employees.

What is the benefit of shoe-shifting? Empathic intelligence – a way of understanding how others experience the world.

Observing a situation from another’s perspective is immeasurably valuable, allowing us to relate better, validate their experience, and glean insights.

Ultimately, shoe-shifting strengthens our compassion and makes us better human beings.

© 2023. Ann Tardy and MentorLead. www.mentorlead.com. All Rights Reserved.