Champion Golfers are like Successful Executives

K.J. Choi won the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass yesterday, coming from behind to defeat David Toms in a sudden death playoff. Graeme McDowell, who had been leading at the beginning of the day, faltered badly and ended up tied for 33rd.

Watching the tournament on TV was entertaining. The field was very competitive, with numerous pros within reach of the win. The course at TPC Sawgrass is a brutal challenge, laced with water hazards, insidious little pothole bunkers, and dastardly-sloped greens. The elite golfers were not immune to sending balls crashing through foliage or splashing into water. As good as they are, they still succumb to some of the same challenges we have as amateurs.  Don't you just love that? 

The attributes that champion golfers exhibit would serve them well should they decide to make a switch to a corporate boardroom. Perhaps that’s why so much business is done on the golf course…

SKILL IS ESSENTIAL: Some are natural-born golfers/leaders. Everyone has to hone their skills to be successful in the long term.

BE PREPARED: Golfers practice, work with coaches, collaborate with their caddies, and continue to develop their skills between tournaments. Preparation is a key to success in the corporate world. It fosters consistency, stability, and trust.

PERSISTENCE PAYS: K.J. Choi lurked one stroke behind David Toms for much of the final round of the Players Championship. He was in position to take advantage of a misstep by Toms to win the whole tournament. A flash of brilliance rarely wins the day – it takes focus and persistence to be a consistent winner in life.

VISUALIZE YOUR GOAL: If you don’t know where you are going, you won’t know when you get there. Golfers always shoot to a target. Executives must have specific goals.

PLAY BY THE RULES: Golf has an extensive and detailed rule book. You must know and adhere to the rules, or face costly penalties. Some rules in business are less clear, but breaking rules in a corporate environment can get you fired, or even prosecuted and sent to jail. (Ask Raj Rajaratnam.)

MOVE ON FROM MISTAKES: The landscape on a golf course offers many opportunities to make bad shots. A golfer must be able to recover and move on to the next shot and the next hole. Executives make honest mistakes too, and must be able to regroup, learn from their mistakes, and move forward.

STYLE & CHARISMA COUNT: The media was clearly enamored with Graeme McDowell’s ease and charm during interviews. As a result, they treated him kindly when he lost his command of the lead on Sunday. Relationships matter.

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http://habaconsulting.blogspot.com/2010/08/arnold-palmers-etiquette-wisdom.html

Arnold Palmer's Etiquette Wisdom

I just recently became a serious golfer. I'm not good (yet), but I'm serious about learning, playing, and enjoying it. Too bad I didn't golf when I was building my corporate career, because playing with my colleagues and other associates would have been great for relationship-building. But who had time?

Golf is challenging and humbling; a civilized game that can drive you crazy. But it employs lessons that translate well in the business world. I was reminded of this yesterday when I stumbled across an August 2008 Golf Digest article by Arnold Palmer, entitled "10 Rules for Good Golf Etiquette". When I read them, I was startled at how directly his rules could be applied to business. For the details of the rules applicability to golf, read Arnie's article: 10 Rules for Good Golf Etiquette

I borrowed the golf great's "headlines" for his rules and applied my own business twist to them:

1. DON'T BE THE SLOWEST PLAYER: Don't be the last person to arrive for a scheduled meeting, and don't be unprepared. You'll slow everything down, affect the team's productivity, and do harm to your reputation.

2. KEEP YOUR TEMPER UNDER CONTROL: Exhibiting temper in a business environment is a sign of weakness. You can succinctly express disappointment, sternly provide criticism, clearly redirect actions of your employees, and pointedly enumerate your expectations. Yelling, cursing, and throwing things is always inappropriate.
3. RESPECT OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME: Schedule meetings and provide an agenda. If you RSVP in the affirmative to a meeting - be there. Last minute cancellations or no-shows are bad form.
4. REPAIR THE GROUND YOU PLAY ON: Tidy up after yourself in a meeting room, cleaning your scribbles off the whiteboard, throwing away discarded paper, recycling empty beverage bottles and cans. When you get your coffee in the break room, wipe up your spills and any left by others. While you're at it, brew a fresh pot.
5. BE A SILENT PARTNER: Show respect for others when it's their turn to speak and share ideas. Don't interrupt. Don't hog the limelight. Your work will speak for itself.
6. MAKE YOUR GOLF CART INVISIBLE: Your ego is your golf cart. Driving it with indiscretion causes a commotion among spectators and leaves marks in the office landscape. Don't be so focused on where you're going that you fail to see the effect you've had on where you've been.
7. ALWAYS LOOK YOUR BEST: In Arnie's words, "Your appearance speaks volumes about you as a person." Dress for success.
8. TURN OFF THE CELL PHONE: There are times and places where cell phone usage and noise are beyond rude. Be aware of the settings on your electronic appendage at all times.
9. LEND A HAND WHEN YOU CAN: Corporate business is a team sport. Help your colleagues be successful and you will share in that success. Those who focus only on their personal goals may "win" in the short run, but will suffer from a lack of support from others in the long run.
10. LEARN THE LITTLE THINGS: Business has nuances that change over time. Observe and be considerate. As Arnie notes, "...every piece of etiquette you practice will be repaid tenfold.".

Thanks, Arnie, for the inspiration!

Help From A Pro

While on vacation at a resort in Nevada last week, I decided to take a golf lesson. I had been having some frustrating problems with my swing, and thought a session with a pro might help fix some of my fundamentals. Wow! What a great, productive experience! With the LPGA Pro's observations and guidance, the issues that had been plaguing my game were quickly pinpointed. Through drills and practice - within an hour - I was striking the ball with much improved results. I was so jazzed. Ah, the satisfying "thwack" that you hear and feel when you hit the sweet spot of a golf ball! Sometimes all we need to become more successful is a little collaboration with another expert. In our daily work environment, we can get so caught up in the day-to-day execution of a job we know that we don't embrace the possibility of change to make us more effective and productve. We can become so stretched and harried that we don't make time for constructive thinking. This is when a good consultant can help. Strategic collaboration with a consultant can bring a fresh perspective to your issues and challenges - a catalyst to change. Working with a consultant also gives you the opportunity to offload work, allowing someone else to add value to tasks on your overfull plate. A well-chosen, well-qualified consultant should make you look good - should make you more sucessful - should give you a boost past a rough spot. We all need a little professional help now and again to consistently find that sweet spot. Don't hesitate to search for it.