Integrity Matters Broadcasts, 2006
May 26, 2006
Golf Professionals and leadership
effectiveness
Dear Friends:
On Wednesday, May 17, 2006, Lou and
Jim Langley invited me to speak to their alumni association,
University of California, Berkeley. My topic was: Integrity
and Leadership. If you are not acquainted with
Mr. and Mrs. Langley, then you are missing one of the
great treats that special people provide: genuineness
and integrity. Living is more pleasant for us when we
identify someone who is the “real” deal and
make sure they know how much they are appreciated.
Following lunch in Pebble Beach, my “integrity” message
unfolded, as it almost always does: “One does not
have to be perfect to recognize the importance of perfection. And,
imperfect human beings still need to be challenged to
live at the highest levels.” What made this
speech particularly meaningful was the opportunity that
my wife, Jane, and I had to thank Lou and particularly,
Jim for having encouraged some of our research on how
golf can teach leadership; and that those who teach it
can be valuable leadership advisors as well. After writing
an article about golf, Jim Langley encouraged me to persevere
until it was published. Jim, the recently retired Head
Golf Professional from the Cypress Point Club, told me
that my written observations made sense to him and my
confidence soared. More people in all walks of life need
to know what golf professionals might teach about leadership
and effectiveness that extends far beyond playing golf. To
those who remain alert, powerful learning can happen
any time. Please see below to know what can be
learned.
PGA GOLF PROFESSIONALS AND LEADERSHIP -
April 20, 2006
"What they didn't teach you
in business school that your golf professional might"
by James F. Bracher
Can a golf-pro teach a CEO something about running a company successfully?
The answer may surprise you.
Successful PGA golf professionals not only play well
but also relate maturely with many different people,
maintaining commitments to the highest principles of
golf. They perform excellently, while simultaneously
managing others productively. They teach students of
all ages constructively and communicate effectively;
while simultaneously mastering their own emotional reactions,
intellectual and strategic challenges and performance
demands. Playing consistently at or below par defines
the scratch golfer, but not necessarily a golf professional.
Those at the top of the game can teach more than driving,
chipping and putting. They are master leaders as well.
First, they understand and model the behaviors required
to play golf at a consistently high level. They are golf
professionals because they are able to:
- Control emotions, including anxiety and tension,
quieting the mind
- Stay in the moment, concentrating - leaving bad shots
behind
- Assess circumstances continuously, both opportunities
and risks
- Concentrate, relying on individual routine throughout
performance
- Stick with decisions, visualizing and executing without
uncertainty or fear
- Maintain confidence and rhythm; sustaining balance
and calm
- Remember to see, feel and hit the ball - with confidence
and intensity
- Acknowledge that performance at this level has already
qualified those who have the talent and discipline
to perform, consistently, at the highest levels. At
the professional level, it is foremost about attitude
- monitoring and controlling emotions; and, of course,
keeping score with integrity.
Second, as managers working with and through colleagues,
like other executives, golf professionals exhibit these
seven "best-in -class" inspiring leadership
behaviors. Click
here to read about seven management habits of golf professionals.
Golf is how we relax. It is also an excellent
environment in which to learn. How do you relax? Sailing,
running, biking, tennis – or something else – and
what might you learn about leadership and effectiveness
when you must change the pace and get away?
In the meantime, don’t forget that we are offering MBA
Impact: Essentials, on Tuesday, July
11, at Tehama Golf Club in Carmel Valley, California. Our
May 23 workshop was over-subscribed; so we are providing
the MBA Impact: Essentials workshop,
a second time.
Sign up before June 30 for
MBA
Impact: Essentials and join us on July 11.
Sincerely,
Jim
