Every leader will be faced with needing their team members to go over and above what is normally required or even expected of them. Depending on the company or the industry, these moments could occur more frequently than desired. It could be as simple as asking someone to redo a report or analysis – for the third time, because new information that ‘might’ impact the outcome has become available. It could also be as difficult as asking someone to stay very late or work the weekend to help meet a deadline.
I call these “go to the wall” moments based on the action of a baseball centerfielder who upon seeing a deep flyball runs to the outfield wall to make the catch for his team. He realizes that he might hurt himself (and many have), but he believes that helping his team win the game is more important than his personal safety.