The Cowardly Golfer
As many of you know, I enjoy golf, and in fact have started a golf website and newsletter at www.ShootingYourAge.com. One of the reasons I enjoy golf is due to the fact it’s the one sport that expects the player to call their own penalties. Ball moved? It’s your responsibility to call a penalty on yourself. Marking your ball on the green? The assumption by everyone is that you will mark it exactly where it was before. The game’s foundation is built on integrity and honesty, with the expectation that everyone else will play by the highest standards.
As you might expect, cowardly leaders are also cowardly golfers, and have a difficult time accepting these parameters.
The Four Golf Standards Cowardly Leaders ignore
- The Rules Don’t Apply To Me- Cowardly leaders routinely change the rules, policies, and procedures at work. Elected leaders and their appointed underlings operate with one overarching policy: Do Whatever Makes Us Look Good. This translates to the golf course also. Cowardly leaders understand that they remain in power by adjusting the policies to fit their agenda, not the other way around. It is very difficult to eliminate that thought process once on the course. Whatever rule they need to change, or ignore, is what they ignore. If they play by their own rules in the office, it’s unreasonable to expect them to become sticklers for the rules of golf once on the links.
- The Score is Adjustable- On more than one occasion I have submitted a report, white paper, or budget document to a cowardly leader, only to have the numbers, conclusions, and even the data changed before it was sent forward. Only two results can occur, and both of them are bad: a) a decision is reached by elected officials based on false information that they were given; or b) I and my staff are questioned regarding the numbers and data that we didn’t recommend in the first place. This attitude is easily transferred to the Saturday morning round by use of the eraser that’s on the end of the pencil. Didn’t like that score on the 8th hole? We will just turn that 7 into a 5. Total score for the round was a 98? Who is really going to add up all those numbers, and a 91 looks a lot better. Cowardly leaders have the power to change data to suit their story at work, so don’t be surprised when you see it happen on the course.
- Good Ole Boy (or Girl)- These are the “aw, shucks, I’m just a down-to-earth country boy” sandbaggers. Their intent is to prove to their boss and the public at large that they are as honest and forthright as they come. The only people who know different are those who have to work for them. When you run across someone with this demeanor, yet never hear good things about him from his staff, it should send up major red flags. These people do everything to parlay that during a round of golf. “Hey pardner, that’s only 3 feet, gonna give it to me?” they ask with a smile as they scoop up the ball and grab the flag as you are forced to make your putt. Every expected favor comes with a smile and “be a good sport” expectation. Expectations at work, and expectations on the course. And that actual 87 becomes an 82.
- I didn’t know- It’s rare that a cowardly leader will admit he or she didn’t know something at work. They are in a position of power, so of course they know. Yet, they have their staff for a reason, that that is to get them the technical, expert information they need so that decisions can be made. When questioned by elected officials, their defense is, “That is what my staff provided me.” This happens on the golf course also. They will break, or ignore, a rule, then if questioned about it, will defer to the staff member they are playing with. “No one said that was a 2-shot penalty!” Also, the “You’re the golfer in this group, I expected you to say something,” is also often utilized. The bottom line is always “It’s not my fault.” Whether it is or not.
Cowardly Leaders are Cowardly Golfers
It stands to reason that a cowardly leader at work will also be a coward on the golf course. The rules don’t apply to him, he cheats when possible, and the ultimate goal is to make himself look powerful and better than he really is.
II-62
