CONFLICT with a Golf twist..

Leadership Linkage#1, ‘a series of articles connecting Golf & Leadership’

Think about individual and organizational conflict. People will be in conflict, accept it, it is a fact… the only need actually is that there are people ‘functioning together’. The issue may be anything, from implementing a new process at work, to how someone talks or acts, differences in views about life, habits/behaviors……and well, maybe even where we should place a wastebasket in an office!

Why is conflict so natural and inevitable. Some partial reasoning is that we work with people that we did not (or would not) possibly have chosen – if it had been our choice. Unlike other situations, (like church, school and/or some other social setting where we get to choose those that we want to be with), at work it is rarely our decision. In those other situations, we can walk away at any time; it is not the same in the work environment. Therefore, you must get along with others or face conflict….or leave, which rarely seems to be a good option ?!?

Ok , so you think “yeah all that makes sense, but how does it apply on the golf course?” Well thanks for asking.

Consider this scenario: Four people, (let’s call them Bob, Susan, Alex and Jackie) decide to go play golf for whatever the reason, maybe they know each other well, maybe not. Without any team/relationship-development or consciousness of conflict dynamics, they just take off on the first hole, assuming WE will just work/play well together naturally. How difficult can playing a golf be in the context of conflict? Let’s just provide some of the many dynamics that may occur now as these four begin to ‘play’ in these serene and beautiful surroundings!!!

• On every shot, Alex takes forever to actually swing at the ball, after all kinds of setting up, fidgeting, practice swings, adjusting whatever, staring at the ball……!
• Bob, being the office gabber, doesn’t really know etiquette here or in the workplace, so he just continues to talk as Susan sets up and swings…!
• Jackie grabs her cell phone which of course rings right as Alex is in his backswing…
• Bob doesn’t count his stroke, the one that was behind the bush, and boldly declares he got a 5 on that hole. Alex being one that plays exactly by the rules (in play, life and work) is extremely aggravated about this kind of math…!
• Susan loves to drive the cart as fast as she can and come to screeching halts by the ball when found, which drives Jackie crazy, who wants things slow and enjoyable…!
• Susan also washes her ball after every hole, and Bob who typically plays the whole round with a ball becoming increasingly soiled…!
• Jackie always jumps up to hit first, even though it is not her turn…!
• Bob walks across the line of Susan’s (and anyone elses) put on the green…!
• Alex just picks up his last putt, even though he is 4 ft away and all know he could easily miss that ‘gimme’ putt…!
• Bob has a cooler of drinks/snacks and trashes the cart,…of course Alex is a neat freak…!

Oh yes, conflict is extremely natural and inevitable. Relationships, communication and conflict resolution are interpersonal-understandings that many of us do not practice so well. We just go back home, to the office, etcccccccccc and tell someone else. >>>>>> Golf and the Workplace, hummm<<<<<
God's best to you, BOOKER