Sometimes, the best business lessons come from the most unexpected places.
For me, that place is a golf course.
If you know me, you know that golf is one of my biggest passions (aside from public relations, of course). Earlier this year, I joined a new country club because I wanted to play on a more challenging course with 18 holes instead of nine. I learned that this club regularly hosts tournaments, which I knew would be outside my comfort zone. At that point, I mostly played scrambles—low-stakes games that aren’t highly competitive.
But I like a good challenge, so for the first time since high school (when I wasn’t very good), I began competing in golf tournaments. (Thankfully, I’ve improved quite a bit since high school, and I’ve surprised myself by winning some of the matches!)
It has been said that golf imitates life. It wasn’t long until I started noticing the parallels between participating in a golf tournament and leading a business.
How You Show up Matters
I once saw communications expert Michael Allosso deliver an excellent presentation about why the best leaders must be at their best every day. As a leader, all eyes are on you at all times. The people around you are assessing your every move, and each action you take matters.
I soon noticed that golf tournaments are very much the same. When you enter a match, your opponent is assessing you. They’re trying to figure out if you’re calm, if you’re prepared, if you know the rules of the game. You might feel nervous and intimidated, but you must project confidence and purpose—just like in an important business meeting—because how you show up and conduct yourself makes a difference.
You can’t let the stressors around you and within you affect your focus. Golf is a cerebral game, and if you’re distracted or don’t believe you’re going to hit the ball where you want, you won’t.
Preparation Is Half the Battle
Whether you’re leading a business meeting or competing in a golf tournament, preparation is key to success. Practice your speech or your swing, get a good night’s rest before a big day, make sure you have the right equipment.
I’ve seen many business leaders try to take the easy way out and regret it. They think, “I don’t have to rehearse for this presentation; I know what I want to say.” And guess what? The presentation doesn’t go as well as it could.
Whenever I have a golf tournament, I wash my clubs the night before as a nod to my late father, who used to clean my clubs and polish my shoes before my high school golf tournaments. It might not seem like much, but it’s a way of preparing myself mentally for the day ahead.
You Are Your Biggest Competitor
Something I appreciate about golf matches is that there is a level playing field. For instance, if my handicap is 25 and I’m playing someone whose handicap is 15, I automatically get ten strokes in a match play tournament to ensure a fair competition.
This approach really helps to combat the imposter syndrome that can kick in when playing against someone who you know is much better than you. However, more than that, it reminds me that golf is just as much about competing with yourself and beating your own scores as it is competing with an opponent.
In the business world, the best leaders view themselves as their biggest competitors. They stay true to their values and continuously improve without being distracted by outside influences. They are fueled by an eternal striving to be better than they were yesterday.
How You Lose Is Just as Important as How You Win
There is no room for bad behavior on the golf course or in the boardroom. Too many times, I’ve seen golfers’ emotions get the best of them after losing a match. I’ve witnessed loud arguments and poor sportsmanship, and I can tell you without hesitation that the people involved have earned a bad reputation at the club.
In my recent Crystal Cup Championship at our country club, I was one of 32 golfers competing for the title. I made it all the way to the final match and ended up losing. Was I upset? Not really—he played extremely well, and although I played to my handicap, he had the better day on the course and deserved to win.
The thing is, you don’t always win in golf or in business. That’s just part of life. But you do have control over how you lose. Will you make a scene, or will you hold your head up high, confident that you will come back from the loss better and stronger?
Every Hole Is a New Game
The golf tournaments I’ve recently played in are scored based on the number of holes you win of the 18 you play—not the overall score. Every hole is a new game—a new opportunity to regroup, refocus, and put your best foot forward.
I try to apply this way of thinking in every aspect of my work as a public relations business leader, from helping a client manage a crisis to pitching a journalist on a story to planning a big event.
What business lessons have you derived from unexpected situations? I’d love to hear from you! Join the conversation with me on LinkedIn. Need public relations support? Contact me here!
