Hitting the Mark: What Coaching Little League Taught Me About Strategic Communications

Founder and President, Mike Raia

August 8th, 2024

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Running a small business can - at times - be all consuming. But, after a career in politics, it's also the most flexible job I've ever had, and it's afforded me the opportunity over the last three years to coach Little League baseball. I spent this summer managing my son's 8U All Star team, and after a hot start in our big tournament, our season ended last night in a tough quarter final loss to a very good team from Cumberland, RI.

The time I spent with these kids this summer was the most fun I've had on a baseball field in 30 years. And the lessons our kids learned on the field translate to the advice and direction I share with clients nearly every day.

• Ask the umpire for clarity, but don't argue balls and strikes.

  In media relations, reporters have to make objective decisions and you're not going to like every sentence of a story or every word in a headline. Each news cycle is one at bat in a long game. If you fight a meaningless point with too much vitriol, all you're doing is giving the umpire a reason to make your pitcher's strike zone smaller and other guys' zone bigger. Save the fight for a call at the plate.

• Be loud enough for your teammates to hear you.

  In public affairs communications, you're going to be working with partners. If no one calls for the ball, it's going to drop into a void and everyone's going to be looking at each other confused. Our clients patrol the outfield and take command, but they make sure their partners know what they're doing. They don't fight with their teammates for credit or to make the play if someone else is better positioned for it.

• Expect to get the ball and know where you're going to throw it.

  If you're looking for a play to come to you, you're in a better position to react with control. We work with our clients to develop message triangles, pivot points, and top lines that help them react, respond, and make the play when news cycles, leadership discussions, and other external forces present them with opportunities to drive their narrative.

• Swing at strikes.

  You might be able to hit a double on a ball that's a little out of the zone, but you sure as hell can't if you let a good pitch go by. We make sure our clients are ready to engage and own the news cycle and public discussion when the conversation moves into their power zone.