After nearly 20 years of being in the same industry, doing roughly the same thing over and over, you would think a successful model would develop and you could coast through to retirement.
Not!
One of the things I enjoy about this business is that it’s a new challenge every season. Some challenges are environmental, some are budgetary, some are staffing-oriented and some are all of the above. What I learn from these challenges is this business isn’t static, and I have to make adjustments every year in anticipation.
So, like a new year’s resolution list (it is after all, a new year right?) here is what I’m resolving to do better this year:
Communication
It never ceases to amaze me the degree to which I sometimes have to 'dumb down' basic instructions to my crew.
Are they not listening, not paying attention, or do they just not give a damn? I'm a voracious jotter-down of random thoughts, much to the chagrin of my patient wife. Little scraps of paper dot my desk, dresser drawer, and sometimes the inside of the washing machine with notes from myself to myself. On reflection of last years' crew I noted; 'Not only do they not know what they're doing, they don't care that they don't know what they're doing.'
What I plan on doing better this year is being a better teacher, instilling a sense of pride, and following up with more teaching, giving praise where praise is due. I believe that if you have a total understanding of what you're doing, why you are doing it, with an occasional atta-boy thrown in, you will do a better job. If I have to teach at the elementary level for starters then so be it. Eventually they will graduate.
I did notice last year how surprised some of the crew was when I said crazy things like, "Nice job," or "That looks good, thanks." It seems that previously the work incentive was to do any task just well enough so that you wouldn't get yelled at for screwing it up. But if they are taught well, I believe they will perform well.
Organization
The more I'm a part of this amazing industry, the more I learn that you can't operate 'in the moment.' As much as I love pitching in to mow fairways or stripe up green surrounds for the weekend, I know I need to spend more time thinking ahead, anticipating needs for the next day, next week, and next month. I'm going to need to do a better job of prying myself away from the course to spend more planning time in the office, knowing it will make for a smoother operation.
Anticipation
As much as we’re all dialed in to The Weather Channel, it seems at least once a year I’m caught off-guard by some weather event that usually involves a disease outbreak. As much as I can respect the skills and knowledge of a meteorologist in a studio 5 states away, I think I’ll follow a little gut-instinct for my micro-climate closer this year.
Coordination
I have the tendency to come up with an idea for a project (drainage/improvement/whatever) and, because my impatient gene is very dominant, want to embark on the project the next day hoping that my racing mind has already thought of everything that needs to be thought of to make the project a success.
For the life of me I can't recall a single scenario where this has been the case. There has always been some sort of issue that gets in the way, whether it's a lack of materials, lack of manpower, or more likely -- a lack of proper preparation and coordination on my part. This year I plan on giving my improvement ideas more than five minutes of consideration before embarking on them.
Association
Between the time I spend at the course, two hours on the road commuting, and time at my trusty Mac as an industry correspondent, I admit my face time with others in the field is woefully lacking. This year I’m hoping to see and spend time talking and listening to more of my fellow turf care professionals because you can’t learn anything new if you stay in your little golf course cocoon.