{ outreach in action } by Paul Roberts • Foundation & Outreach Director
The Changeover Box G
lory was within reach—until a bungle with passing the baton led to disappointment. The year was 2015. The setting was the IAAF
World Track and Field Championship in Beijing, China. The shot at glory was for the USA 4X100 track relay team to take down the might Jamaican relay team—defending champions and Olympic champions an- chored by the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt.
The key to success in any relay race is the successful transfer of the baton from the current runner’s hand to the awaiting run- ner’s hand. While this may appear simple in concept, it is quite difficult in execution. The approaching runner is at full sprinting speed (close to 20 mph). The awaiting run- ner is nervously anticipating until they can no longer look back but must burst forward with new energy. All of this needs to hap- pen in a very narrow lane over a distance of just 20 meters. The awaiting runner has a 10-meter head start in an effort to get to full speed by the time the approaching runner enters the changeover box. The exchange of the baton must occur before the end of the 20-meter changeover box. Usually, this exchange happens blindly, as it’s difficult to look backward and run at full speed. Instead, the awaiting runner stretches an arm back- ward with an open palm acting as a target for the approaching runner to firmly place the baton. When successful, the exchange ap- pears seamless, and the race continues at full speed. When the exchange is botched, the results range from falling out of the lead to disqualification. All the investment in train- ing and the dreams of glory are dashed over a short distance.
Such was the case in Beijing in 2015. The Americans had made two successful baton passes and were in the lead—poised to challenge the intimidating Bolt down the final 100 meters. And then it happened. Justin Gatlin, running the third leg of the
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relay, could not smoothly handle the baton pass to Mike Rogers. By the time Rogers got refocused he had lost the lead and could not catch the blazing Bolt. USA finished second. The baton bungle resulted in further pain when, after review, the Americans were disqualified for not completing the baton exchange in the permitted changeover box. They were just one step over the limit.
Thrilling story, yeah? But why I am sharing it? Does the recent spate of good weather have me thinking of spring track season? Am I trying to encourage dentists to swap their Frankensteinian PPE gear for figure-grabbing track suits and spikes? Not exactly. Some things are better left unseen!
My impetus comes from a convergence of events as I scan the current dental landscape on which we race. I turned 60 recently which puts me closer to a baton passer than a baton receiver. It’s humbling to think what one might pass on to the next generation. This month is also my 10-year anniversary with the MDA, and I’ve learned a lot from watching the dental “track meet” for a decade. Some who were leaders at my start are now off to retirement. Track stars of lore, perhaps. Some who are leaders now had not even started dental school in 2011, but are now full stride providers with Hall of Fame futures. Lastly, I think about the amazing
800 or so dental students in our state who represent the next wave. I love their energy, courage, vision and persistence. They are the awaiting runner, palm out, anxious to not look back but sprint toward the future. I’m excited to watch them run.
An association is always evaluating their suc- cess in the changeover box. Failure to train for the exchange is really just a plan to lose the race. We must always look ahead, finish our assigned distance with fervor and trust the next runner to carry on.
Bruce Miller, author of The Leadership Baton, writes, “Leadership is more like a baton than a trophy. You keep a trophy, but you hand off a baton.”
There are plenty of trophies in dentistry. CVs are full of impressive accomplishments. Accolades from staff and patients often ring in the air. But what about your leadership focus? What baton is in your hand? What will you pass on to the next generation? Are you being intentional and focused about it? Your changeover box is short, and victory requires a smooth transition.
As society’s mood starts to brighten with access to the vaccine and some hopeful declines in COVID-19 cases, we can begin to ponder returning to the more routine
