BEING A PROFESSIONAL & LIVING IT Bruce R. Williams, CGCS Bruce Williams Golf Consulting

You’re In Charge! You are the image that you create You are the image that you create Perceptions become reality Perceptions become reality

Develop a Plan Invest for success! Invest for success! 1. Clothing 2. Office 3. Continuing education 4. Golf equipment

Business Casual? Run your operations like a business Run your operations like a business Use professional correspondence Use professional correspondence Voice mail Voice mail Business cards Business cards Computers Computers

Communication Employers Employers Golfers Golfers Community Community Family & Friends Family & Friends

Communicating with Employers Golfing….home and away Golfing….home and away Provide them with Greenkeeper Magazine Provide them with Greenkeeper Magazine Attend Green Committee Meetings Attend Green Committee Meetings Professional presentations Professional presentations Share articles and information on hot topics Share articles and information on hot topics

Invite Advisory Committee to your bldg. Invite Advisory Committee to your bldg. Conduct an orientation for new members Conduct an orientation for new members Thank you notes Thank you notes

Communicating with Family

COMMUNICATE WITH GOLFERS

Communicating with Golfers Learn their names Learn their names Develop a website Develop a website Use comment cards Use comment cards Develop and provide a maintenance calendar Develop and provide a maintenance calendar Daily updates Daily updates

Document changes on the course using before and after photos Document changes on the course using before and after photos Write an article for your newsletter Write an article for your newsletter Maintain high visibility Maintain high visibility Congratulate club champ or tournament winners Congratulate club champ or tournament winners

Conduct your own seminar Conduct your own seminar Open house at your Turf Care Center Open house at your Turf Care Center

Communicating with the Community Get to know the media Get to know the media Meet and greet the town council Meet and greet the town council

Miscellaneous Communication Use 1 st class signage to your office Use 1 st class signage to your office Business cards Business cards You cannot over-communicate You cannot over-communicate Your job may depend on your communication skills Your job may depend on your communication skills

Exceptional Customer Service Set the tone Set the tone Set the example Set the example Make it contagious Make it contagious The Best Golfing Experience The Best Golfing Experience

THE TOTAL EXPERIENCE

Etiquette People skill People skill Used to enhance relationships Used to enhance relationships Your behavior is judged by others Your behavior is judged by others Understanding cultures (global) Understanding cultures (global) Understand your golfers Understand your golfers Read what your golfers read Read what your golfers read

Forms of address Forms of address Titles Titles Greetings Greetings Phone messages Phone messages Written documents Written documents Thank you notes Thank you notes

Know what to do when invited out Know what to do when invited out

Mentoring Find the smartest people Find the smartest people Develop formal relationships Develop formal relationships Give as much as you get Give as much as you get

What is leadership? Office or position of a leader Office or position of a leader A person who has a commanding authority or influence A person who has a commanding authority or influence

Best Definition Trying to influence the behavior of another person Trying to influence the behavior of another person Influencing employees to carry out the goals of the operation Influencing employees to carry out the goals of the operation A dictator demands that things be done while the leader motivates, encourages, requests, and usually gets the action he wants because of a certain set of characteristics he employs A dictator demands that things be done while the leader motivates, encourages, requests, and usually gets the action he wants because of a certain set of characteristics he employs

New Styles of Leadership 2000 and Beyond! Values the individual Values the individual Based on creating the vision for the club or department Based on creating the vision for the club or department Helping employees learn what they need to realize the vision Helping employees learn what they need to realize the vision Recognize the value of people Recognize the value of people Empowering those around you Empowering those around you

How are leading and managing different? Leaders Leaders Rely on persuasion Rely on persuasion A process that relies upon passion, heart and personal charisma to enlist subordinates A process that relies upon passion, heart and personal charisma to enlist subordinates Leadership can exist through all levels of an organization, whereas management typically only exists on a supervisory level Leadership can exist through all levels of an organization, whereas management typically only exists on a supervisory level Leaders get others to follow Leaders get others to follow They build alliances They build alliances

Characteristics shared by good leaders Good leaders empower others Good leaders empower others Inspire confidence from followers Inspire confidence from followers Accountable Accountable Trustworthy Trustworthy Help establish vision, values, and beliefs that all believe in Help establish vision, values, and beliefs that all believe in

Set goals and create an empowering environment Set goals and create an empowering environment Offer recognition for jobs well done Offer recognition for jobs well done Help people see what’s in it for them Help people see what’s in it for them Offer strong communication at every step of the path Offer strong communication at every step of the path Offer training and assistance to help people meet goals Offer training and assistance to help people meet goals

Allow others to take on leadership roles without feeling threatened Allow others to take on leadership roles without feeling threatened Are responsible for their actions and for those of their followers Are responsible for their actions and for those of their followers Are knowledgeable in their specific field of study (agronomy/business) Are knowledgeable in their specific field of study (agronomy/business) Are driven by discipline and habit Are driven by discipline and habit

Leadership abilities Leadership abilities Displays attributes that make people glad to follow Displays attributes that make people glad to follow Provides a feeling of trust Provides a feeling of trust Rallies the troops and builds morale when the going gets tough Rallies the troops and builds morale when the going gets tough

Ingredients of Leadership Guiding vision Guiding vision Passion Passion Integrity Integrity Trust Trust Curiosity Curiosity Daring Daring

Aren’t we all salesmen? Selling yourself Selling yourself Selling your budget Selling your budget Selling your projects & programs Selling your projects & programs Credibility Credibility

Networking Surround yourself with winners! Surround yourself with winners! Power of the Rolodex Power of the Rolodex The world is only a click away The world is only a click away

Diplomacy Getting along Getting along Knowing your place Knowing your place Understanding the hierarchy Understanding the hierarchy It’s about the attitude It’s about the attitude Be flexible Be flexible

“Go To” Guy Opportunities to succeed Opportunities to succeed You can depend on me! You can depend on me! Bring me solutions not problems Bring me solutions not problems

Reflect the image of your course

6 Ways to Achieve Career Success Worker smarter and harder Worker smarter and harder Demonstrate & document continuing ed. Demonstrate & document continuing ed. Welcome change! Welcome change! Commit to lifelong learning Commit to lifelong learning Look for leadership opportunities Look for leadership opportunities Communicate openly and directly Communicate openly and directly

It’s All About the Image!