The Parallels of Golf and Leading Your Business
First of all I want to credit my friend, client and fellow
golfer, Deb Waitkus, with the idea for this article. Deb is
the founder and CEO of Golf for Cause. She is an expert in
demystifying the game, turning 'Golf into Gold?, and
leveraging golf for business. The Rules of Golf which as you
may know can be very obscure, daunting, and at time
bewildering. It struck me there are many parallels between
golf and leading a business. The rules of leading
effectively can also be quite daunting and at times
bewildering.
The Royal and Ancient Club may not have had business lessons
in mind when those rugged Scotsman devised this challenging
game, but they did us all a great service both
recreationally and professionally when they codified the
rules of the game over the years. Here are a few samples of
how golf and business parallel each other.
Golf: Penalty Strokes Business: OK, you goofed. You did
something by mistake or even knowingly did something that
you could have done better. Be honest about it, admit the
error, take the penalty stroke, learn from the error and
move on.
Golf: Maximum 14 Clubs Business: What are the 14 'go to'
tools you use most frequently and effectively to lead and
manage effectively? Golfers are continually following
technological developments and buying new clubs to get that
edge. Are your 'leadership tools' the ones you need in your
bag? Are you technologically savvy?
Golf: Be Ready Business: Being ready and prepared for your
next shot are critical in maintaining pace and enjoying your
round of golf. Are you anticipating and are you ready to
meet your next business challenge? Are you considering the
lie, have you lined up your next move, can you visualize the
ability of your company to respond, are the other players on
your team ready to respond?
Golf: Etiquette Business: Golf is not just getting the
lowest score. It is also about etiquette, honesty, and
following the rules. You learn a great deal about a person's
character, ethic and personal code of conduct when you're
playing a round of golf. Wouldn't it be nice to know how
your potential clients and colleagues react under pressure
before you engage them in business? You can learn this in a
friendly round of golf.
For those of you that are golfers I have adapted the Slow
Play Test from a Golf for Cause newsletter to a Slow Play
Test for Leaders and Manager. Slow Play Test for Leaders and
Managers
Yes or No 1. Am I courteous? 2. Do I know when it is
appropriate to make the next move to close the deal or coach
a subordinate? 3 Am I ready and proactive when action is
needed? 4. Do I note the reaction and change in market to my
strategy and tactics; do I learn from the markets reaction?
5. Do I delay and procrastinate to avoid difficulty
decisions? 6. If in doubt, do I have a contingency plan
prepared? 7. Am I decisive and committed to my decisions? 8.
Do I know how to 'take relief' and guide my team when minor
adjustments need to be made? 9. Am I preparing for my next
leadership action as I observe the activities of my team?
10. Do I note the score, take a quick assessment of results
and then move on rather than dwelling on the past?
Joyce A. Friel is the president of Peak Performance
Consulting Corporation, an organizational development
company that works with companies to assess and design
business solutions that deliver results.
With more than 25 years' experience in the organizational
development, human resources, and process improvement
consulting fields, Friel serves as a business leader,
strategist, facilitator, catalyst and developer. Her
applications' experience comes from having led change in
both Fortune 500 and smaller organizations, including
Eastman Kodak, IBM and Kodak Polychrome Graphics. She a
contributing author to Six Sigma: the First 90 Days
published in 2006 by Prentice Hall.
http://www.peakperformancecorp.com
http://www.joycefriel.blogspot.com
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