As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, I don't watch much golf. I usually hit the majors and maybe some of the Ryder Cup. Suffice it to say I didn't make plans to spend Sunday afternoon watching the Verizon Heritage from Hilton Head Island. In retrospect, maybe I should have.
Our local paper headlined that "Davis' Penalty Leads to Furyk Win." It was the headline because Jim Furyk is from the area. I read on to find out that Furyk and Brian Davis had a playoff to determine the winner as they were tied after 72 holes. Davis, an Englishman, has never won on the PGA tour. As he attempted to chip on the green, his pitching wedge moved a loose reed in the marshy area surrounding the green. He called for a rules official, explained what happened and called a penalty on himself! The rules official asked his colleagues to review the replay and soon confirmed the two-strok penalty. Davis conceded the hole to Furyk who became the winner.
What does this say about Brian Davis? Cynics might say that if he didn't call it, someone might have called it on him. I prefer to think differently. As I read the article (I didn't see it-even on replay) it appears he immediately called for the official and didn't even try the shot. Golfers, as a whole, take the rules seriously and consider adherence to them an outward sign of integrity. Mr. Davis showed all that and more on Sunday. It shows he is a man of honor, with a great deal of respect for the sport. He lives by golf's code of honor.
Would we do the same thing? If we make a mistake or omission at work, do we call ourselves out? Perhaps we do if we know we'll get caught. What if there is no chance of knowing you made the mistake or omission? I've asked myself that question this week. I believe I would, but won't know until I'm in that position. How does an organization reward those who have that integrity and not punish? These are not easy answers. A friend of mine defines honesty as being truthful in what you say and integrity in taking responsibility for what you do. It's a hard definition for all of us to follow, yet 90% of those I've worked with or met would say that honesty and integrity are among their core values. On Sunday, Brian Davis showed the world that he is a man of integrity and lives by a code of honor.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Order Has Been Restored
There was a Nike ad I saw this week in Sports Illustrated that is the title of today's blog. It sums up this piece I had rolling around in my head since Duke won the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship a couple of week's ago. Duke has been a perennial powerhouse in college basketball, though there has been a drought the past six years-no trips to the final four. 2010 put things back in order.
Duke is lead by their coach Mike Krzyzewski (Coach K). He had been there 30 years, nearly half his adult life. In that time, Duke has won 4 National Conferences (including 2010), been to the Final Four 11 times; have been in 12 Elite 8's, won the ACC Conference Championship 12 times and the regular season 12 times. They play meaningful games almost every night. To be this effective, there must be a system.
Whether you like Duke or not, you must respect what they've accomplished. The men on this team typically graduate and most don't have a career in the NBA. He brings in players that will excel in his system, not be standouts who will leave after their freshman year. He is a tactician, a motivator, and has a system that works. On occasion, he tweaks the system but there is no doubt it is his.
Every successful organization has a system in place in order to replicate success. One of the hardest thing for small organizations is to take the time to create processes that still allows creativity and the flow of new products. It's a delicate balance that many organizations can't achieve which stymies or extinguishes growth. Every organization needs a Coach K at a leadership level that will create and execute a successful system. What kind of order does your organization have? Maybe its time to create some.
Duke is lead by their coach Mike Krzyzewski (Coach K). He had been there 30 years, nearly half his adult life. In that time, Duke has won 4 National Conferences (including 2010), been to the Final Four 11 times; have been in 12 Elite 8's, won the ACC Conference Championship 12 times and the regular season 12 times. They play meaningful games almost every night. To be this effective, there must be a system.
Whether you like Duke or not, you must respect what they've accomplished. The men on this team typically graduate and most don't have a career in the NBA. He brings in players that will excel in his system, not be standouts who will leave after their freshman year. He is a tactician, a motivator, and has a system that works. On occasion, he tweaks the system but there is no doubt it is his.
Every successful organization has a system in place in order to replicate success. One of the hardest thing for small organizations is to take the time to create processes that still allows creativity and the flow of new products. It's a delicate balance that many organizations can't achieve which stymies or extinguishes growth. Every organization needs a Coach K at a leadership level that will create and execute a successful system. What kind of order does your organization have? Maybe its time to create some.
Sometimes, The Best Person Wins!
I don't watch much golf, but for some reason I always seem to watch the Masters and US Open. I had a run in my youth where I saw three out of four US Opens in a row. Incredible courses and incredible golf. Perhaps heading to Augusta is on my bucket list-but that's not the point of today's blog.
The Master's has been hyped for weeks as the return of Tiger Woods. Against all odds, he actually played well and kept himself in the tournament until late today. Fortunately, that's not the story. Today, Phil Mickelson won his third Masters. He is such a likable guy and like most of us on the golf course, takes shots that defy logic. In many of the major tournaments, those shots fail. He has finished second or tied for second five times at the US Open including last year. You may recall that his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer a few weeks before the tournament.
Phil is an easy guy to root for. He seems like a regular guy who grinds his way to wins. Today he took the same shots he did at the US Open last year, but made them. On the 13th hole, after hitting his fourth tee shot into the woods, he made an impossible shot between trees and landed on the green. Pure Phil.
His wife continues to battle breast cancer and last July, his Mom was diagnosed with it also. If anyone should have won today it was Phil Mickelson. The embrace and tears after his win with Amy (his wife) was touching. Reminiscent of Tiger's emotions after his father died.
Who in your organization deserves to "win?" Most of us have people who battle personal issues but come in every day to do their best. Perhaps they have ailing parents and a special needs child. Maybe they've overcome an addiction and fight it every day. In our own way, we need to reach out and let them know they're appreciated-that they're making a difference for the organization. We all want to see our teammates do well-what should we be doing to support them? Just like Phil, the best person needs a win.
The Master's has been hyped for weeks as the return of Tiger Woods. Against all odds, he actually played well and kept himself in the tournament until late today. Fortunately, that's not the story. Today, Phil Mickelson won his third Masters. He is such a likable guy and like most of us on the golf course, takes shots that defy logic. In many of the major tournaments, those shots fail. He has finished second or tied for second five times at the US Open including last year. You may recall that his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer a few weeks before the tournament.
Phil is an easy guy to root for. He seems like a regular guy who grinds his way to wins. Today he took the same shots he did at the US Open last year, but made them. On the 13th hole, after hitting his fourth tee shot into the woods, he made an impossible shot between trees and landed on the green. Pure Phil.
His wife continues to battle breast cancer and last July, his Mom was diagnosed with it also. If anyone should have won today it was Phil Mickelson. The embrace and tears after his win with Amy (his wife) was touching. Reminiscent of Tiger's emotions after his father died.
Who in your organization deserves to "win?" Most of us have people who battle personal issues but come in every day to do their best. Perhaps they have ailing parents and a special needs child. Maybe they've overcome an addiction and fight it every day. In our own way, we need to reach out and let them know they're appreciated-that they're making a difference for the organization. We all want to see our teammates do well-what should we be doing to support them? Just like Phil, the best person needs a win.
Monday, April 5, 2010
The Best Day of the Year
Everyone has a favorite day. Perhaps it's your birthday, a holiday, etc. Today, is my favorite day. This is the day that baseball opens (officially) and the college basketball champion is crowned. It is a day of optimism, enthusiasm, pride, patriotic fervor and a chance to finally shake the winter.
This is a day that I've been anticipating for weeks, if not months. If I had thought it through, I would have taken the day off and watched 10 hours of baseball, taking a break to watch the first hour of "24" then settle in for the men's National Basketball Championship. I would have eaten a lot of junk food, monitored my blood sugar to make sure I would live to see tomorrow then struggled the rest of the week with my normal sleep patterns. It would have been a fine day. I'll have to write a note to myself to do it next year.
To be fair, I don't watch college basketball until mid-March. I play a pool and am usually humiliated, but have fun trying. There is so much about life that gets played out in 2+ weeks of the NCAA tournament. Hard work, determination, preparation and the feeling that on any given day, David can beat Goliath. I'm not sure that will play out tonight (Butler vs. Duke) but it's a nice thought. What I do know is that the tournament is the perfect lead in to my favorite sport-baseball. Today there are 13 games starting with the Nationals hosting the Phillies and ending with Seattle at Oakland. Thus, the long and winding road of 162 games culminating with the playoffs and World Series. Life is good!
What is your favorite day? Does your organization have a favorite day? We all need to look forward to something out of the ordinary that recharges our batteries and gives us a positive outlook on life. For many, this is done on personal time. Nothing wrong with that. Forward thinking organizations need to create days that bring a sense of fulfillment while helping to invigorate our thinking. It could be a retreat or training but it should help to motivate all your employees. Clearly, it's easier to do in small organizations but that shouldn't stop us from trying.
Enjoy today-no matter your motivation, interests or passions. I'll revel in the fact it's the best day of my year.
This is a day that I've been anticipating for weeks, if not months. If I had thought it through, I would have taken the day off and watched 10 hours of baseball, taking a break to watch the first hour of "24" then settle in for the men's National Basketball Championship. I would have eaten a lot of junk food, monitored my blood sugar to make sure I would live to see tomorrow then struggled the rest of the week with my normal sleep patterns. It would have been a fine day. I'll have to write a note to myself to do it next year.
To be fair, I don't watch college basketball until mid-March. I play a pool and am usually humiliated, but have fun trying. There is so much about life that gets played out in 2+ weeks of the NCAA tournament. Hard work, determination, preparation and the feeling that on any given day, David can beat Goliath. I'm not sure that will play out tonight (Butler vs. Duke) but it's a nice thought. What I do know is that the tournament is the perfect lead in to my favorite sport-baseball. Today there are 13 games starting with the Nationals hosting the Phillies and ending with Seattle at Oakland. Thus, the long and winding road of 162 games culminating with the playoffs and World Series. Life is good!
What is your favorite day? Does your organization have a favorite day? We all need to look forward to something out of the ordinary that recharges our batteries and gives us a positive outlook on life. For many, this is done on personal time. Nothing wrong with that. Forward thinking organizations need to create days that bring a sense of fulfillment while helping to invigorate our thinking. It could be a retreat or training but it should help to motivate all your employees. Clearly, it's easier to do in small organizations but that shouldn't stop us from trying.
Enjoy today-no matter your motivation, interests or passions. I'll revel in the fact it's the best day of my year.
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