By Kirk McCarley
Not to be confused with armed conflict, W.A.R. is a term most inherent to the sport of baseball. Its initials stand for “wins above replacement.”
It is a rough gauge suggesting how many more wins were theoretically earned by a team having a certain player on a team vs. an “average,” readily available replacement. It is calculated through incorporating such factors as offensive production, defensive performance, and league averages, weighing in the difficulty of their position, shortstop or pitcher, for example, as well.
The higher the WAR, the more valuable the player. For instance, a player with a WAR of 5.0 is considered to have added five more wins to their team compared to a replacement level player. In major league baseball, which demands a 162-game regular season, five wins can still be significant, separating not only playoff eligible teams from competitors, but also determining home field advantage when the post-season arrives.
As of June 22, New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge boasted a WAR of 5.6. The Yankees had 45 wins and led their division in the American League. WAR suggests that without Judge, the Yankees would have only 39 wins and would occupy third place in their division.
Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who has been a designated hitter and outfielder as well as a pitcher, had a WAR of 3.6. Like the Yankees, the Dodgers also led their division in the National League. Were the nearly four wins that Ohtani has provided the Dodgers to be scratched, they would drop to second place in their division.
How might WAR apply to you and me?
Granted, few of us are professional athletes. In addition, our compensation pales compared to that of a major leaguer, where the average player salary this season slightly exceeds $5 million. Yet we each have some standard of evaluation in what we do. What level of sales do we generate? How effectively do we respond to customers? Even in our personal lives, are we contributing a fair share to the success of our families?
I’ve introduced the concept of WAR to some of my coaching clients, not so much from the standpoint of cranking out the sophisticated statistical algorithms from the world of sports, but rather as more a statement of value. Allow me to explain.
A sales professional between jobs and seeking a new role lands a job interview. They are asked during the interview to elaborate on an achievement. A possible response might include that under their leadership, sales in their work unit achieved an all-time inflation adjusted high in the past year, increasing by 15% over the prior year. During their five-year period before that, average year over year sales increased 9% annually, compared to a 5% average in the other work areas of that organization.
In other words, exemplary metrics.
Not all of us are in professions where worth is easily quantified. A customer relationship manager may be able to measure client satisfaction through surveys, though. “Mary and her team provided an experience far exceeding typical expectations.” “John and his crew delivered service that was professional, prompt, and set new high standards. I will be recommending his company to my friends and colleagues.”
Even more powerful are the tales that speak to character and heart. “As a claims adjuster, Sally went the extra mile when our home was destroyed by a weather event. She stayed with us throughout the ordeal, providing more than expected. What would we have done without her?”
The sales professional. Mary. John. Sally. Achieving. Going beyond. All providing exceptional value.
Each of us is a product that offers value. We may not be flashy. We may not work in a capacity that lends itself to easily measurable key performance indicators. Maybe impeccable character and heart are our best assets. One thing is certain for any of us, though. There are one or more things that you offer that you do better than most for which you provide wins above replacement. What might that be? Who needs to know it?
A graduate of the University of North Texas, Kirk McCarley is a Certified Professional Coach as well as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) and SHRM-CP Certified. He is also a Production Assistant for both college football and basketball for ESPN and leads group cycling classes as a Certified Spinning instructor. Contact kirk@theseedsowercoach.com, theseedsowercoach.com, or call (314) 677-8779.
Author: Sowal Editor
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