My father never watched baseball as a kid and did not even have a favorite team. However, when he asked my grandfather for his blessing to marry my mother, my grandfather made my dad promise that he would raise his kids as New York Mets fans. Keeping his word, he raised me and my brother and huge Met fans. My father and I would watch as many games as we could. Due to the fact that he worked nights we usually watch baseball games during the weekend. While watching the games, I never really appreciated the analytics of the game up until the movie Moneyball came out in 2011. The movie is about the General Manager, Billy Beane, of the Major League Baseball (MLB) team Oakland A’s that used analytics and a limited payroll to create a championship contending team. He uses influence tactics like, inspirational appeals, pressure tactics, and consultation in order to convince others that his plan is going to work.
One influence tactics Billy Beane used to persuade others was Inspirational Appeals. This is when, “agents use logical arguments or factual evidence to influence others.” (Hamel, 2021) In the beginning of the movie Mr. Beane meets with the owner to discuss the future after falling short to the New York Yankees in the playoffs. He tried convincing the owner that he needed more money in order to create a good team to defeat the Yankees. He argued that with their $40 million payroll (money the team has to spend on coaches and players), there was no way that they will be able to re-sign their star players or even sign new ones. If he was given more money then he will be able to do what is needed while keeping the fans happy.
Unhappy with the way his scouting department was handling the financial situation he decided to take matters in his own hands. While at a meeting with another team he notices an assistant giving great advice to the general manager of the other team. After the meeting he goes to the assistant and asks him what he does for the team. Impressed by the assistant’s answer he uses consultation to convince him to join the team. This is when, “agents ask targets to participate in planning an activity.” (Hamel, 2021) Happy that his work will finally be noticed, the assistant left his job to help Oakland win a championchip with the money they have using analytics.
With the team adapting to a more analytical based approach, many of the veteran scouts were displeased with the way the team was going. The head scout tried convincing Billy Beane that what he is doing will not work and that he wants to be fired from the team. Billy used Pressure Tactics to try and persuade him that what they are doing is right. Pressure tactics are defined as, “threats or persistent reminders used to influence targets. If a boss threatened the loss of salary or reward, he would be using pressure tactics.” (Hamel, 2021) Billy Bean told him to adapt to the new way or fail miserably at his job.
Growing up watching and playing baseball was one of my favorite things to do as a kid. However, after watching Moneyball, my knowledge for the game grew even more. Baseball is a very technical sport and analytics is a great way for a team to decide what is needed to do at a certain moment. Billy Bean used influential tactics such as, consultation, inspirational appeal, and pressure tactics in order to convince everyone to trust him and the team.
Reference:
Hamel, R. (2021). Lesson 7: Power and Influence)
Great post! I also enjoyed this movie and this was a great perspective. Billy was a smart but Peter Brand was a genius. He gained a small degree of power and influence with the Cleveland team. Because of this, Billy took notice of Peter and hired him. This was a really good movie with many characters displaying power and influence throughout. Thanks for sharing!