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YOUR CAREER
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Just one thing
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So what can you do about the economy?
The reality of the big picture is that there’s just not much one person can do, and that is creating a lot of stress for all of us. To better manage the level of anxiety this lack of control brings, let’s focus on change at the micro level to realize those things you can do to improve your corner of the world.
Just find one thing you can do and do it now. It will be different for each person. What can you do today to make your job, your career, your life better?
How about this one — do just one thing today to help your employer and the golfers at your facility understand what you’re doing to solve their problems. Maybe that sounds too simple? Let’s go back to the broader perspective and take another look.
As a golf course management professional today, you are expected to be an expert in agronomics and more. Let’s say through your expertise you identify a series of problems that keep occurring at your facility. Note that this is a work example, but the same applies with other relationships.
You know that if you don’t change something, those problems will continue to happen. At work, you may automatically focus on turf matters. For your employer or for the golfers, there are different issues that come to mind when you want to implement change. They don’t see the same problems you do, but they may see others, such as budgets, staff or customer satisfaction.
You must also be an expert in how people react to what you’re trying to do. For your one thing, try looking at the challenges through another lens. Try on the perspective of other decision makers at your facility.
Now you’re ready to offer solutions in terms they can understand. Answer their problems first — perhaps present your proposed change with an explanation of a better potential bottom line to the overall facility — and you will increase the trust they have in your overall expertise.
Keep in mind that the one thing you can do right now may involve a learning curve during implementation, which means practice, training and potential risk of failure; therefore, you should carefully communicate your well-thought out process for identifying that one thing, along with the potential end-results, both positive and negative. Share the decision-making resources you use, along with examples of others who have faced similar problems and found success. Build trust slowly in others and in yourself.
Realize that without just one thing, nothing will change.
Looking for ways to be heard and get your message across more effectively? Consider these five strategies for superintendents to make themselves heard. 1. Talk daily with your management team, especially the golf pro, considering he or she has more visibility with golfers — your end customers — who you want to communicate accurate information to. 2. Answer the phone clearly and enunciate; your voice is your image to anyone who contacts you only by phone. Always keep a pen and paper nearby to jot down notes. 3. Convey a professional tone on your answering machine message. State your name, department and facility name. Keep your voice courteous and friendly, give information on when you’ll return phone calls and then follow through. 4. Do you know the names of your course’s active golfers? Addressing your customers by name can make a world of difference. Find out which golfers like to be informed and keep those members up to speed on the latest course developments. Get feedback from them through a survey or just ask them. 5. Sign up for a speaker’s bureau list to help polish your speaking skills. Seek out invitations to speak in front of civic groups and other gatherings, or invite local schools to come visit your course for a field trip. |
