What a farewell it was to Yankee Stadium Sunday night.  I feel very fortunate to have been there.  Except for the fact that Joe Torre’s name was not among the dozens of ex-Yankees mentioned as key historical figures, it was a well-choreographed night.  But not surprisingly, the most memorable moment was seemingly more impromptu.  Spontaneity, or the appearance of it, is always connects with us on a deeper level.

After the end of the game, Derek Jeter showed why he’s the captain and heart and soul of this team.  He took the microphone and addressed the crowd.  

Jeter Addresses Fans

He didn’t read from prepared remarks.  He didn’t make it all about him.  He made it all about the fans.  He turned his eloquent, yet conversational remarks into a tribute to all of us in the stands whom he described as “the greatest fans in the world.”  He credited all of us with being the crucial component in transforming a mere building into a legendary cathedral of baseball.

Professionals from every industry can learn a lot from his speech.

  • It was concise and to the point (leaving you wanting more)
  • It was not self-serving or inwardly focused.  He made it about his audience
  • It was well planned and well thought out but not scripted
  • It was from the heart and made every fan there feel as if he was speaking directly to them
  • It was frank and honest yet optimistic
  • It contained an inspirational call to action (”hand these memories down to the next generation.”)
In an age in which authenticity is regarded as some kind of Holy Grail for corporate leadership, Derek Jeter did at the microphone what he does on the field every single day - give a clinic on how to do it the right way.