Everything I need to know about management I learned from golf

The great thing about life is that the lessons we learn in one part of our life can apply to another part. Business owners and managers can learn a lot about excelling in their profession through the hard learned lessons they experience on golf courses. Golf and management are both games that require concentration, mental flexibility, strong character, the ability to relax and not be affected by bad play.

How one learns
A person can learn how to play golf from books, friends, a golf pro or by being self taught. A good golfer will even rely on expert advice from an outside source — a golf pro. Business management can be learned from books or education, prior experience with other managers, being self-taught or through professional consultants. A healthy mix of all these sources is a good thing.

It is important though to seek out professional advice to make sure the business is on the right track. Both golfers and managers will also benefit from watching how the pros play. Modeling the best of the pros will help accelerate the learning curve.

Be proactive
Golf is unlike most other sports with a ball. The golf ball just sits there and waits for the golfer to do something, unlike other sports where the players usually have to react to the motion of the ball. The golfer needs to take action for something to happen.

In business, managers need to be proactive. Problems in a business usually don’t go away or resolve themselves. Management needs to take action to work out the issues of a problem to develop and create new opportunities.

Master the building blocks
When someone masters the various building blocks of a swing, they become a good golfer. Some of the key components are the grip, aiming the shot, the setup position, alignment, backswing, transition and downswing.

Some of the basic elements of the building blocks for good management are similar to those of golf. The grip is akin to how someone controls the business, since the hands are the only part of the body in contact with the club. Aiming the shot is analogous to setting goals for the business.

The setup position is when management creates a business that is well balanced in order to operate effectively. The backswing can be similar to management preparing the organization to act; the system is energized. The transition is a critical point, where management needs to effectively pass control over to the staff. Finally, the down stroke is where the staff takes action and results happen.

Watch and listen, don’t talk
An important golf etiquette rule is to be quiet when it is someone else’s time to play. Likewise, a good rule for managers is to let others speak without interruption. This is a great way not only to learn what the other person is thinking, but it also is a great rapport builder. Resolve problems by getting the input of others, rather then dictating.

Good strokes determine leaders
Golfers with a smooth stroke are the leaders and well respected by others. In management the same is true. Managers who provide smooth strokes to their employees become effective leaders and win the respect of their staff.

Hit issues square-on
In golf, hitting just the top of the ball and sending it sputtering a few yards is called “topping.” This common fault is typically caused when the golfer’s head moves up and down during the swing. The golfer, establishing a reference point for his eyes, can usually resolve the fault of topping a ball.

In a business, issues should be addressed squarely, head-on — not just the top few surface issues. Managers that are unwilling to handle the root causes of a problem will move the issue sputtering forward just a short distance ahead. Managers can learn from golf to set their sights on a reference point, which will allow them to see the importance of handling all aspects of a problem rather than just topping the noticeable surface of the problem.

Play it as it lies
Golfers can’t move the ball just because they don’t like where it landed. Golfers must play the ball as it lies. This motivates golfers to be more accurate. Even still, the best golfer will have a difficult shot every once in a while. The important thing is how the golfer handles this difficult shot. Will they hang in there with resolve, or will it rattle their nerves?

In business, a manager must also play the ball where it lies. A manager cannot move a problem to a more desirable area. A good manager understands problems will occur and they just come with the role. Effective managers look for the best way to address problems and systematically resolve them. It might require a few extra strokes, but calm determination will move the ball forward.

Visualize the shot
A good golfer understands the natural shape and patterns of their shots. Few people hit the ball dead straight. The ball either fades or draws (it goes left to right or right to left). The key is to understand one’s tendencies in their shots and to visualize how that shape will fit into the hole.

In management, a person will have his or her own strengths and weaknesses. We are all human and we have patterns for how we handle things. The key is to understand those patterns and visualize and fit those tendencies to match the management situation needed to handle certain situations.

Planned approach
The best players in golf will start every round with a plan for how they are going to approach the course. Good golfers know which holes they can attack and which holes they should play safe.

The best managers will also start out with a plan. These managers will evaluate the road ahead and know how they will steer the business. They will know when to be aggressive and when to be more cautious.

Parting shots
Just as golfers are advised to find and stick with a good teacher and listen to feedback from the golf pro, insurance agency managers should listen to feedback from employees and clients to find out what is important to them. Practice self-evaluation after each game or significant management event. Is progress being made?

Golfers and managers must be honest with not only themselves but also with others about the game. They must also know strengths and weaknesses. Faking it will not last long. They never cheat or fudge on the score. They practice the difficult shots to improve the score.

It is important to have goals. The best golfers and managers set goals and create a timetable to improve their game and they have the discipline to stick with it. Remember golf and management are target games.

Overcome self-doubts and don’t change strategy in the middle of the game. Learn from mistakes and don’t get down when they happen. Stay positive. Golf and management are hard enough and a bad attitude will only hurt the player or manager. As Bobby Jones said, “Golf is a game that is played on a five-inch course — the distance between your ears.” Management is the same.

Bill Schoeffler and Catherine Oak are partners at Oak & Associates. The firm specializes in financial and management consulting for independent insurance agents and brokers. They can be reached at (707) 935-6565, at bill@oakandassociates.com, or visit: www.oakandassociates.com.