What Do Golfing and Executive Coaching Have in Common?
Two Passions…
I took up golf at the age of 13 and it became my all-consuming passion for many years. I would play 2 or 3 rounds a day in the summer, hand-mowed my parents lawn every day, and brushed the grass to look like a golf course. The hole was a soup can sunk into the ground… My other passion now is Leadership Coaching. I’ve been on a path to be the best coach I can be for many years now. Golf is a metaphor for life, and these are my thoughts on how golfing and coaching are similar…
Golfing…
A few years ago, when I lived in England, I was sitting with some friends in the lounge of the golf club where I was a member. It was near the end of the year and we were discussing how the season had gone. For me there wasn’t much to discuss… However, of the 10 or so golfers there 5 had won competitions that year. One of the winners mentioned that he had played with me when he won. It turned out that all 5 of the winners had played with me. A coincidence? Maybe. Maybe not.
I always try to be a good companion on the golf course. For me that means playing quickly, being 100% supportive of whoever I’m playing with, using good golf etiquette, and being sensitive to what other players need. Playing quickly has a lot of components to it: having an efficient routine before hitting the ball is one, and always being ready when it’s your turn to hit. Good course management is another…knowing your capability and minimizing risks (and disasters) and all the extra time that takes…
Also, people I golf with say I tend to bring out the best in them. Whether it’s a friendly game or a serious competition, people I play with say they have some of their best rounds when playing with me. Some say it’s my relaxed swing tempo that helps them play better. Others say they just enjoy playing with me: I’m always calm and positive, I’m knowledgeable about the game, I have a good sense of humor, and I have lots of good stories. I have had moments of greatness in my golfing career, but not many people know that. What my partners don’t get is uninvited advice about their golf game or their lives…
Coaching…
I bring a lot of the same things to my coaching clients as I do to my golf partners. I have the same temperament with clients as I do with my golfing partners, I’m positive and help clients see new possibilities. I’m always prepared ahead of time and ready to get into the business of the day. I’m sensitive to my client’s needs and the issues that will make the biggest difference to them. I coach them on what is front and center to them in the moment, while being attuned to the broader goals they have for themselves. I don’t give them advice they are not looking for (though I sometimes offer observations if they are open to it). I don’t waste their time. I bring out the best in people and build up their self-confidence.
My coaching clients say I’m knowledgeable, insightful, empathetic and easy to work with. Many have credited me with helping them become better leaders. I am a role model for them. Just like my golfing partners…
Contact me…
If you are interested in some coaching on the golf course…let’s get together for 10 or 19 holes… Let’s see how I can help you become a better leader and (maybe) a better golfer.
David Green.