Cardinals manager describes aspects of great leadership in talk at Show Me Center

EDGES.

That's the acronym St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny uses to describe leadership: Education, Discipline, Goals, Energy and Serving others.

After 24 years working with some of the best coaches, mentors and players in the world, Matheny said he couldn't help but share what he's learned over the years.

On Monday night more than 1,500 people attended the first Southeast Arrow Leadership and Success Summit -- and the excitement was palpable.

"I'm here to share, not preach," Matheny began. "I don't have all this figured out."

But he's getting pretty close. Matheny is the 49th manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, and has lead the Cardinals to the National League Championship Series every year since taking the reins.

The fact that Matheny is a leader is easy to deduce while listening to him speak. Even a lecturing Matheny constantly challenges the audience, to picture their goals and priorities, similar to how he would challenge his players to compete on the field.

"This speech is not for those that are OK with being mediocre," Matheny said.

He presses for the best in his team, for them to be great instead of just good. Of the five things needed to succeed Matheny stressed that the last one was the most important, to serve others and do the right thing. As a spiritual person, a follower of Jesus Christ, Matheny strives for the best in all aspects of his life: his family, his wife and his team.

"I'm judging myself more than anybody else," he said. "... The very best players are the ones striving for EDGES. ... We want that well-rounded person."

Matheny spoke about the undertaking it is to keep the image of the team in the right light, and what an amazing job his team does with that.

"As Cardinals, we have a huge responsibility -- don't waste this, don't waste this opportunity you have here," Matheny said about motivating his players.

Being part of the team means expecting excellence, doing things at a higher level and being aware of how the team treats other people. Matheny described his leadership style as "servant leadership," in which personal growth is not the main concern -- it's what you can do for others.

When describing these aspects of leadership, that education means never stop learning, to be constantly reading, discipline in making sacrifices and willing to do what others won't, setting goals to improve a little every day, having energy to inspire those around you and to serve others, Matheny paused and debunked a common myth surrounding baseball players.

"Nowhere along this route have we talked about this supernatural talent," Matheny said fixating on the audience. "It's all things that we can control."

Matheny expounded on each letter, pointing out what within that aspect makes a leader, and how the energy that is put into something can determine how others see them.

"I believe that [as leaders] you set the tone for the rest of the group," he said.

After concluding his speech, Matheny agreed to a short question-and-answer session with Arrow editor Logan Young.

Young said deciding the questions for Matheny and gathering them from the audience was her favorite part.

"I was terrified," Young said after the session was over. "I was sitting there trying to think of the order I wanted to ask the questions, just playing through it. ... I was so nervous for how he was going to respond, but of course he delivered."

Young and her staff on the campus newspaper worked in close tandem with their mentors and the sponsors of the event, Saint Francis Medical Center, to get everything ready for the event, and to Young, that was her favorite part.

Matheny ended his speech saying: "Leadership is changing people, pushing them in the right direction -- helping them, by serving them."

It's a statement that Matheny truly believes, which is evident in the way he so passionately speaks about his team and family -- both on and off the field.

smaue@semissourian.com

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