The capacity to lead is an extraordinary skill. Good leaders
learn to first recognize and then manage change. They inspire
others with their passion, creativity and the willingness to
listen.
Last month, a woman played in a Men’s Pro Golf Tournament. For
those of you who don’t follow the golfing world outside of Tiger
Woods, this was not only controversial, it drew new attention to
the differences between men and women in sport, and why a woman
would find it even remotely appropriate to play in a man’s
tournament. What effect would this have on a traditionally male
dominated sport and what’s wrong with playing in your own
sandbox?
A quick education on Women’s Golf: Annika Sorenstam is the
‘Tiger Woods’ of Women’s Golf. She is young, talented, and wins
just about every tournament she plays. So why would she pursue
something so unorthodox? Is it Ego, money, attention, or desire
to push beyond the traditional limits?
I bring this novel feat to your attention because it is not
about men vs. women, or can/should a woman play in a men’s
tournament. It is all about leadership and the value learned
from her experience. As a coach, the question of the day is:
• What is the impact for Annika by playing at the Colonial Golf
Tournament and how will this transform her course? Here’s how it
plays out for me.
The Top of the Mountain…. Imagine truly being at the top of your
game, regularly being ‘in the zone’, and you have nothing but
blue sky in front of you. You then stop to contemplate and ask
what more can I learn, where can I grow, is their more to my
game, and what would happen if I were able stretch just that
little bit more? Am I really at the top of my “own mountain”?
Admiration… How many of us are willing to risk everything we’ve
known— in Annika’s case her status as the top woman golfer in
the world, confidence, the role or position she has earned in
the golfing community, and her sense of self. She knowingly
subjected herself to intense media scrutiny that questioned her
motives, and was the target of other golfers who didn’t
appreciate her presence. Can you imagine what she must have been
feeling as she teed off that first day?
Choices…. My assessment of her choice to play at the Colonial is
that she could have have continued as the dominating woman’s on
the LPGA Tour. Instead she chose to ask ‘am I capable of more?
By expanding her universe, exposing her game for what it is and
what it is not requires courage, moxy, and ambition. She took
off the safety belt and dove in.
Annika is a role model for all of us and has shown us the value
of strength—and not allowing fear to put artificial limitations
on how we traditionally think. It’s about performance. To the
women golfers and other athletes, she has shown them that they
too are capable of more, can raise their game and become more
competitive. Take yourself back to a time when you were on top
of the world, and you had a moment to think about how you got
there. Now ask yourself if you are there today. If not consider
these questions: • What is the most important thing you want to
accomplish this year? • What is the most exciting thing
happening right now that you are not taking advantage of? • What
goal would really stretch you right now/? • How are you going to
do that?
Applying Leadership and Growth…. Requesting more of ourselves
vs. resting on our laurels can have a huge impact in our
companies and our personal lives. What we may find around the
corner is a renewed appreciation for ourselves/organizations and
new skills that allow us to raise our standards increase our
performance and amplify our contribution. When we are willing to
risk what we already are, we create new opportunities. The very
definition of ‘evolution’ and ‘entrepreneur’ starts with
challenging individual responsibility, creativity and risk.
Making the Stretch…. What are the qualities you most admire in
elite athletes and leaders and how do these qualities apply to
you? Some examples are: Focus – Discipline/dedication – Natural
talent/ability – Competitive nature/drive – Desire – Passion -
Mastery They exemplify what we value most. Where in your life
are you willing to find out what’s next, and what is possible?
Qualities of a Leader…. As I stated earlier, this is not a
battle between the sexes. It is about examining our own
abilities, and as leaders asking more of ourselves while being
open to growth—wherever it comes from– breaking down
traditional barriers and pushing through to a new level.
How the story ends…. So how did Annika do? At the conclusion of
day 1 at the Colonial, she was at par, and on the second day
struggled and did not make the final cut. Since the Colonial,
she has one her last two tournaments. Quoting her after last
weekend’s playoff win: “At the Colonial it was the journey to
winning. Maybe with all that pressure I experienced then, that’s
what helped me to pull through today.”
Based on these results, do you think she is better off today for
taking the risk? I think she demonstrates living your best life.
I wish her great success, whatever that ends up being.