The Perfect Swing: How Golf Can Ease Your Career Change

The economic downturn of 2008 left many people questioning where their careers were going and whether they could expect to stay with the same company for the foreseeable future. Seven years later and we’re still asking ourselves these same questions – but what do they have to do with golf? A day on the pitch is a proven method for keeping your career in the fairway, staying flexible, and standing out in the eyes of a potential employer.

Networking and Relationship Building

Golf may seem like a sport reserved for those already in the know, but it is a fantastic opportunity to get your foot in the door and make a good impression. For those looking to make a career change, it is an irreplaceable way to make a solid first impression and earmark your place in an employee’s mind. Even if you are just considering a transition, it is a chance to uncover new opportunities and make new connections.

Front-nine Interview

You may be booked to play a round of golf, but the opportunities at your fingertips far outweigh the value of a beautiful day on a gorgeous course. If you’re hitting the fairways with a network connection or a prospective employer, that means you’re guaranteed at least a couple hours to get know each other – but you can promote yourself as a qualified candidate (without a hard sell) well before you hit the 19th hole. This happens in the following ways:

Build a positive association. The good news is that you have a way to communicate and explore a new business opportunity. The great news is that there’s likely no place in the world your colleague, boss, or potential boss would rather be. Depending on the kind of golf being played, you’ll have the opportunity for teamwork, friendly competition, and shared stories – all experiences rightly associated with a good time.

Reveal your personality. Golf is a demanding sport. It takes concentration, consistency, patience, and a hundred other resume soft-skills an employee is more likely to believe by seeing in action. Fortunately, this is the perfect chance to showcase how personable and qualified you are as a person – and a prospective candidate.

The Club House

Finally, actually walking the course is only a part of the awesome nature of golf. After tee time, a substantial amount of time is devoted to socializing and celebrating at the club house. This is further opportunity to develop professional relationships, but perhaps it is even more valuable as a chance to cultivate personal relationship. This is a place for eating and drinking, relaxing, and enjoying the rest of your day at the club.

Join us for Upcoming Course Connections!

Additional Resources:

• How Golf Can Land You a Career (or Internship) on Wall Street
• Does playing golf actually help your career?

Greetings Friends and Fans,

Firstly, let me thank our sponsors, who help make every Course Connections event a truly special and successful day: Kate Sweeney of Morgan Stanley, Karolina Dehnhard of Budd Larner, PC, Sally Glick (not present) of Sobel and Co, CPA’s, Vince Egan of Benjamin Edwards and Amy Delman of Amy Delman Public Relations.

And a special thanks to our pros, Joe Haggerty and Ross Seaman. Remember them when you want to take your game to the next level!

Now think about our attendees: Honorable Retired Judge, Family Law and Matrimonial Attorney, Personal CEO, Wealth Manager, Event Planner, Title Insurance Producer, Publicist, Nurse, College Graduates and Executive Coach/ Business Strategist! The best part of the whole thing: we spanned five generations and all connected because of our love of golf and our love of meeting new people to make this the best event to date!

Our next event is Thursday, June 25th. I am capping all future events at 16 attendees, because the beauty and success of Course Connections rests with QUALITY connections, NOT QUANTITY. So if there is someone you would like me to include in my next email blast, please send me their email address and I will invite them!

Thanks again for being my friends and fans! Love you!

CLICK HERE to join our next round of COURSE CONNECTIONS!

See you on the links,
Susan

How Playing Golf Helps You Choose Your Leadership Team

Golf is not traditionally considered a team sport. However, it has improved the business skills and discernment of many professionals. It is an excellent way to gauge candidate potential if you’re undergoing leadership training or choosing a new management team. Wondering how? Here’s the low down on how a game of golf can seal the perfect approach for your business leaders.

Pinpointing Leadership Qualities

On the surface, playing golf is a unique opportunity to evaluate personnel and identify strengths and weaknesses as leader outside of the workplace. This peak into personal lives and behaviors can play a part in screening potential business moves and leadership potential. Consider some example of how this can be done:

• Decision making. Golf is a game of patience, preparation, and consistency. Everything from approaching a lie to following through with a swing takes deliberateness to be executed properly. Sound like favorable qualities? It may be a casual setting, but watching how your candidates perform on the pitch lets you know how they’ll perform in the office. Are they creatures of habit? Do they respond well to change or less than ideal circumstances?
• Accountability. Golf is also a game of etiquette. You may not catch a coworker lying about his or her score, but you may note some behaviors related to decorum and politeness. Is someone forgetting to fill in his or her divots? These may seem like minor details, but they can speak volumes of a person’s awareness and leadership.
• Self-control. Even the pros can let fly with their clubs when they’ve made a bad shot. Consistent bad behavior, though, may indicate a greater problem. You can keep an eye out for poor attitudes, as well as how a candidate gets along with others in a competitive setting, to gage their potential in a position of leadership.

Golf and the Leadership Metaphor

While we’ve covered some tangible ways you can keep an eye out for leadership qualities, the sport as a whole is a lesson in leadership.

• Know when to call the Hail Mary. We’re mixing our sports analogies here, but good decision making skills and knowing when to make the tough call are essential for a trailblazer. It may be safe to play it short, but if making par won’t cut it, a leader must know when to take a risk.
• The mental game. Golf takes a unique combination of intimate focus and an understanding of the big picture. If a person can drive the ball 400 yards but has no short game, he or she will have trouble keeping up. Just like in business, the ability to execute and the ability to finish are equally important.

Learn more about the connection between golf and leadership at Course Connections.

Additional Resources:

• Leadership Through Golf: Career Lessons from the Course
• The ‘Links’ Between Golf and Leadership
• 7 Critical Leadership Lessons that can be Learned on the Golf Course

Selling Clients on Golf: How Golf Helps Your Sales Career

If you want to sell a product successfully, you need your audience to listen. With cellphones out and tablets ready, this can be difficult to do in a traditional meeting. An informal place like a golf course, however, can make this much less challenging. Playing a round of 18 with potential clients helps you build rapport and increases the chances your product will sell. Here’s how:

Personal Development

While golfing with a client gives you plenty of relaxing time on your own, there is also plenty to take from the game of golf that can be applied to improve your sales career on an individual level. Discipline, focus, and consistency are essential to the game, and they are essential to sales performance. These qualities can be honed through the sport and applied to your career, developing better decision making skills and learning how to respond to bad lies, unfortunate bounces, and the hazards of the course. Furthermore, playing with a potential client allows you to see his or her application of these skills and how he or she responds to certain situations.

Opportunities for Women

Golfing presents unique opportunities for professional women. It is an excellent way to assimilate with all coworkers, and it is a useful way to avoid being excluded from opportunities to meet new contacts and build lasting relationships. Since golf has traditionally been a male-dominated sport, participation is a good way to stay active, maintain a presence within a company, and preserve a competitive spirit. If you’re in a position where success relies on making connections, finalizing sales, and building a system of referrals, meeting at a golf course is a much-needed resource.

Shared Interests and Event Opportunities

A game of golf is a bonding experience. Whether or not you’re teamed with your client, you’ve secured a few hours devoted to shared time on the course and plenty of opportunity to talk business. Aside from enjoying a fresh change of scenery from the typical office hard-sell backed by a power point slide, you have the opportunity to relax and make your client comfortable on a personal level. If a purchasing decision is made, these feelings are likely to be carried on throughout the relationship.

Furthermore, a shared interest in golf opens the door for new opportunities and events in the future. Host events, create fundraising opportunities, or sign up for programs related to golf. This is an excellent chance to expand your relationship with clients, network by introducing them to coworkers and other parties, and help them feel more a part of your organization.

Improve your golf networking skills at Course Connections.

Additional Resources:

• 19 Tips For Closing A Deal On The Golf Course
• Using Golf to Increase Sales, Revenues and Success
• Analytics & Golf: Win More Sales & Improve Your Game
  

How Golf Can Help New Business Employees Network

People new to the corporate world may not be sure how to network. They probably have some idea of what to ask, but formal events can leave them feeling intimidated and lost. Compare that image to a game of golf shared by industry professionals. The inviting greens, calm landscapes, and laid back atmosphere can pave the way for new connections and long-term friendships. Successful professionals playing golf is a stereotype for a reason. Consider these ways making friends on the greens is a hole-in-one networking tool.

Natural Connections

Relationship building takes time, and in the business world, a lot relies on a solid first impression. Broaching these barriers in the office can be tricky, and introducing yourself over a bustling morning meeting is not always ideal or practical. However, suggesting a golf game or joining in on one is an excellent opportunity to get to know and bond with coworkers. It also opens the door for more outings (and more networking) in the future.

This casual environment is also why so much business is decided on the golf course. The fresh air and positive atmosphere make negotiations and decision making more relaxed. Plus, even if it’s just a trip to the driving range, participants have at least a few hours to both socialize and get work done.

Driving From the Ladies’ Tees

While golf was once literally a boy’s club, the benefits of this sport both professionally and socially are no longer limited to men. In many cases, participating in the game of golf levels the playing field and gives women the opportunity they need to obtain better professional opportunities. Here are some of the benefits women have uncovered:

Development of relationships and network for business. While this is a benefit for both sexes, women in particular have found that playing golf opens up chances to network and communicate on an equal level outside of the workplace.

Enhanced ability to take risks. Do you play it safe and set yourself up for the next shot, or take a risk with a slice close to a water hazard? Decision making skills, confidence, and focus are critical skills for a good golfer, and they are also attributes women may feel denied in the office. This is the perfect opportunity to showcase theses fantastic qualities.

Staying in the know. Sharing a common interest is a great way to solidify connections. Golf can bridge this gap, level the playing field, and give female professionals the same opportunities for friendship and the potential for continued success.

Ample Opportunity

Book a spot on the next company golf trip. Of course, bridging the gap between experienced and novice golfers and the different levels of responsibility can be tricky. Luckily, there are events available that address these issues and give all personnel the opportunity to connect over this wonderful sport.

Learn about golf networking hands on at Course Connections.

Additional Resources:

• Golf Tips – Even non-golfers can use golf for networking
• Golf as Networking: Mixing Business & Pleasure
• Linking Up: How to Network on the Golf Course

Marketing is competitive for all businesses, and one of the most difficult, nuanced parts of competition lies in selling yourself. Marketing yourself or your product in a traditional environment can cause pressure, but a nontraditional environment can help you relax and think positively about landing a job or sale.

One of the best nontraditional environments to sell yourself or your product is the golf course. A great number of professionals play golf – in fact, it’s assumed in some fields. If you’ve never played golf or have done so recreationally but doubt it can help with your business, allow us to teach you to use golf as a marketing tool.

Increase Your Socialization

A big reason so many professionals love golf is that it gets them out of the office and focused on something fun. Golf places business professionals outdoors in the fresh air where they’re likely to make small talk before asking interview questions or negotiating deals. Golf is competitive, but your main opponent is yourself. That is, each individual in a golf game wants to win while improving his or her individual scores. This type of competition lets potential buyers or coworkers see your potential to focus, capitalize on strengths, and learn from your mistakes.

Show Off Your Risk-Taking Skills

Golf is challenging because you must calculate every move to get the best score per hole. This is quite similar to business – to make the best deals or produce quality projects, you have to follow instructions but take risks at the same time. Knowing how to do this is valuable in any position or field, especially those involving inherent risk or meticulous attention to detail.

Learn to People-Watch

A golf course is a place where the most professional people tend to drop their masks. Watching how other people play golf can show you how they may act in the office and whether you want to work with them. For example, an interviewer might decide not to hire someone he spoke to on the golf course because that person lost his temper after losing. The head of a department might decide against putting a new employee in charge of a project because she relies on flukes or pretends to understand rules that confuse her. Use golf to observe the people around you, finding strengths to emulate and weaknesses to avoid.

If you would like to learn more about how golf can influence your marketability, join us at Course Connections this year, where we will put these principles into action.

Click here for more information about sales and business development coaching.

Additional Resources:

• Why Sales Is Like Golf
• Even Par: How Golf Helps Women Gain the Upper Hand in Business