Baseball hall of famer Yogi Berra passed away in September at the age of 90. In addition to being a great player for the perennial champion New York Yankees in the 1950s and early 1960s, he was known as a type of clown-prince for his penchant for amusing malapropisms related to baseball and life in general. 
‘When you come to a fork in the road, take it’
Many people probably don’t realize that Berra’s frequently quoted observations can be seen as astute critiques of the American workplace. His ability to reduce the complexities of life into humorous sound bites created a treasure trove of good counsel, especially on the importance of thoughtful evaluation and looking at the big picture. He reminded us that you can “observe a lot just by watching.” Some of Berra’s shrewdest thoughts included:
- “Ninety percent of the game is mental. The other half is physical.” Berra’s words can also apply to employment. Hiring workers and getting them to show up is only half the battle. You want workers who are motivated and engaged and take pride and satisfaction in their jobs. That’s the other half of the equation, and it is far more significant.
- “I never said half the things I said.” These words are a great reminder of the importance of documentation for managers and supervisors. When an employee claims that his supervisor said he could take the day off or that a manager uttered a discriminatory remark, employers must be able to prove that the manager or supervisor did not say what the employee claims they said.
- “It was impossible to get a conversation going; everybody was talking too much.” Despite his sometimes befuddling remarks, Berra understood the importance of clear and effective communication. It is important that everybody is on the same page and works together toward common goals. You won’t have that unless there is a very clear voice coming from your company’s leader.
- “There are some people who, if they don’t already know, you can’t tell ’em.” Berra saw a great number of baseball players come and go, and he understood that some of them just could not compete at the major league level. In every workplace, there will be employees who simply cannot perform their jobs capably. In those cases, Berra would tell you that if they haven’t caught on by now, they never will. Don’t avoid making the hard decision to let an employee go if he simply can’t play the game.
- “Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded.” Innovation and creativity are critical to success in business. You need employees who can think outside the box and come up with creative ways to increase productivity, reduce expenses, and stay ahead of the competition. Berra reminded us of how important it is to distinguish your company from the other guys.
Bottom line
Berra’s most enduring line may have been, “It ain’t over until it’s over.” He is gone now, but his impact on the American workplace will never be over.
Dennis Merley is an attorney at Felhaber Larson in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He may be contacted at dmerley@felhaber.com.