One of the most normal reactions I get from people who ask me what I do is to make is their ‘confirmation statements’.
OH, Business Golf, Yaw, I know all about that….I play golf with potential clients all of the time.
You would think their remarks would mean that all is good and everyone gets what Business Golf is all about. However…..just playing golf with a potential client is not necessarily playing Business Golf.
The one main difference between what some people think is playing Business Golf and what actually playing Business Golf is…Business Golf is:
- formal,
- purposeful,
- organized
- and thought out.
Proponents to this approach feel it is stuffy or they would rather make the round of golf feel more casual or impromptu. This sounds good in theory but statistics gathered from my study of the effective ways to use golf as a business tool show that a golf outing with potential clients or customers that is started on a casual note have an 85% chance of failing to meet any business needs with either party at the time the golf is played or anytime afterwards. This means that nearly 9 out of 10 rounds of golf a business person plays with business associates in what they feel is a casual environment result in not having a favorable result for at least one of the parties who played.
OH, there may be the intention of not wanting to make the golf outing a business function and make it a ‘get to know each other’ affair, but over 55% of the time the invitee will leave with a ‘what was that all about?’ thought in their head which results in a potential negative impression on the host.
Anytime an agreement is made in a business environment for two or more business people to play golf there is this inherent impression on one of the parties thinking that there is going to be business talked or done sometime during their time together. It is a normal reaction and part of human nature to anticipate and reason a person’s intention.
Even if the words are said and the intentions are made clear that NO business will be talked during the round and the round of golf is to get to know each other there still is that inherent trace of anxiety on one or both parties that business is the true or hidden agenda for the agreement to play golf. As any golf knows, having any anxieties or concerning thoughts while playing golf does not lead to a pleasant round of golf.
The best thing to do is clear those thoughts from everyone’s mind by taking the steps towards playing a round of business golf. The casual rounds of golf come after that initial round, but not until then.
I can count home many times I have been told by someone who plays a lot of golf with business associates that every round produces a positive impression since no business is ever talked, but when I go to the other side, the person he played golf with, and ask their impression nearly 80% of them say they could not enjoy the round because they were anticipating at any moment that a sales pitch or some type of prying into their personal or professional business was going to be made while playing golf.
So, why take the risk of making a negative impression on yourself or on your business or lose the opportunity to make a positive impression? If true business golf is played then the intentions are clear, both players can relax since they know what is going to take place and when it will take place. This allows from the very beginning control on whether they want to play with the person or not.
Get it all out on the table on what the plan for the day is and then everyone can enjoy a round of golf. As I mentioned, there are a lot of people who DO GET business golf or think they Get what business golf is about, but it would be good to validate if they do by learning How to Play Business Golf…and where do you go to get that validation? OH, come on…you know where.
Learn how to play business golf and make the best out of golf and business.
Let me know how I can help.
