Jackie Robinson: courage, team unity; Public Radio Interviews

With the release of the movie "42", there are many interviews connected to the movie as well as Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball.  There were two great interviews on Public Radio discussing the movie and the event.

Actor Chadwick Boseman plays Jackie Robinson in the film.  On 6 April 2013, Scott Simon interviewed Boseman on National Public Radio.  In that interview, Boseman talks about reflecting on a character when portraying him on the screen.

"And I think you learn something from every character, every character you play. As you do that, you find parts of yourself that you didn't know. So, in order to find those characters, you dig into yourself and say Jackie Robinson was a courageous man. So, what is courage to me and what is discipline to me?"

Looking at the initial weeks when Robinson played baseball, KPCC's John Rabe interviewed Jim Becker on 9 Aptil 2013.  Becker is the last surviving newsman at Jackie Robinson's Major League debut.

"The day sent chills up my spine, and 66 years later it still does. I always said his failure would have been our failure, but the victory was his."

Becker also talked about how later in the season, the Philadelphia team was particularly hostile towards Robinson.  It was that hostility that helped unify the Dodgers to support Robinson.  Initially, half the Dodgers signed a petition against Robinson being on the team.  When an opponent attacked one of them, that caused the team to unite.


The Chadwick Boseman radio interview can be found here:  http://www.npr.org/2013/04/06/176357603/learning-how-to-steal-bases-like-jackie-robinsonay

The Jim Becker radio inteview can be found here:  http://www.scpr.org/programs/offramp/2013/04/09/31264/photos-jim-becker-last-surviving-newsman-at-jackie/

Character Outweighs Statements--Emerson

In discussing the importance of character Principle-Centered Leadership, Stephen Covey uses a great quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson

"What you are shouts so loud in my ears I cannot hear what you say."

This is so true.  Many followers become skeptical about their leaders because of the character traits they exhibit.

The statement "lead by example" is over used.  It is useful, however, for leaders to self-examine their character and their actions.  When you ask your team to push for a goal, are you pushing with them and supporting them.  Do you have the same high standard of ethics in the office and at home as you expect your team members to have.