Governance Is a Team Sport

What Hockey and Baseball Teach Us About Leadership

It’s late in the game, tensions are high, and every play matters. The team is on the ice, working hard and following the plan. Then, mid-game, the coach changes the strategy without calling a time out, hits the ice. No skates, no stick, no gear. They charge toward the crease, ready to stop the next shot themselves.

The confusion is palpable. What’s going on? The players freeze mid-pass. The crowd goes silent. And before long, the other team scores.

That’s what it feels like when municipal councillors forget their role.

It’s an analogy Ian McCormack, President of Strategic Steps, uses often, and it sticks because it’s true. When the coach becomes the goalie, the whole game falls apart.

While the hockey image resonates, I’ll admit I’m more of a baseball fan. So, when the Toronto Blue Jays clinched their trip to the World Series for the first time in more than 30 years, it brings that same rush. Watching the Jays fight their way back has reignited a familiar excitement, the kind of energy that fills a whole community when its municipal government is working well. When decisions are clear, communication is strong, and everyone is pulling in the same direction, people feel it. There is a shared sense of optimism and pride that ripples through the town, just like the buzz across Canada right now. Fans everywhere are bursting with hope and pride. Our part in it is to cheer them on, whether from the stands or, in most cases, the couch. That’s what fans do. We support, we celebrate, and we trust the players and coaches to do their jobs.

That’s what good governance feels like too: everyone doing their part and working together for the win.

Play Your Position

In municipal government, council are the coaches. They set the game plan, the vision, and the strategy. The CAO and staff are the players. They take that direction and bring it to life on the ice.

But when a councillor decides to take over operations, it is like a coach trying to play goalie. They are out of position, ill-equipped, and throwing off the entire team dynamic. What is meant to be leadership turns into interference.

As Ian often says, “You hired the players for a reason. Let them play.”

In these moments, no one is lifting the Stanley Cup, winning the World Series, or even bringing home a pennant. When everyone is out of position, the whole team loses.

Respect the Roles, Respect the Game

Every winning team runs on respect for the coach, the players, and the plan. Councils are no different.

The mayor sets the tone, councillors build the strategy, and staff bring it to life with skill and experience. The CAO, like the goalie, is the last line of defence, keeping operations on track, maintaining balance under pressure, and making sure council’s vision stays protected.

When everyone understands and respects those roles, decisions are stronger, trust deepens, and the community, the fans in the stands, feels that same surge of pride when the team wins.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said it best: “It is not one guy being a hero. It is everyone doing their job.”

The best councils do not rely on one voice to carry the team. They win by trusting each other and keeping their eyes on the bigger picture: the community they serve.

So before strapping on the pads and heading for the crease, remember your role. Set the vision.

Lead the team. Let your players play.

Because the truth is, the best teams, whether they are chasing a puck or a pennant, do not win because one person does it all. They win because everyone knows their position, trusts each other, and sticks to the plan.

If your council is ready to strengthen its governance and get everyone playing their position, Strategic Steps can help.

You can reach me at Gail@strategicsteps.ca