Life after turf school

Looking back on my turf school days at Michigan State, I can think of a lot of very applicable knowledge in terms of what we do on the golf course on a daily basis.  Things ranging from diagnosing diseases to identifying insects, and from understanding cultural practices to more scientific items like, the effects of shade on physiological processes of grass plants.  Yes, it’s safe to say, it was an investment well made.  However, as is the case in all professions, there are some things you just can’t learn in the classroom, rather, you must learn them as you go.  It takes commitment on your part to develop and prepare yourself to take the next step in your career.  As I look back on my experiences so far as an Assistant Superintendent, I want to take the time to pass along some things I’ve picked up along the way.

Become a leader
The first thing you can focus on is spelled out in a simple statement, ‘Commitment to Becoming a Leader.’  Its funny how you can take the importance of bettering yourself in this profession and the eminence of how much time it takes to do that, and lump it all into one single phrase.  This industry is very unique, and with that, comes many unique challenges.  The largest of which, is the time you have to give to this industry and the dedication you have to give to your trade.  Ask yourself this question: “Am I the assistant I would want to hire for my own staff one day?”  If not, then you’ve got some work to do, and if so, then I believe there is always room for improvement.  As mentioned before, the betterment of yourself as a leader comes through commitment.  Success is not stumbled upon, it is earned, and committing to your profession, and becoming a leader is key.  ‘A journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step,’ and in this case, commitment, will be the foundation of your career.

Ah, the “L” word, Leadership.  What does that mean exactly? Well, Winston Churchill put it best when he said, “Its one thing to feel confident, but its another thing to impart that confidence to people who do not like your plan, or feel the same confidence in your knowledge as you do.”  This, my friends, establishes a great framework for how to truly LEAD.  We, as assistants, need to begin to develop our management approach now as it will make our transition to the next level a bit smoother.  To do that, we need to begin by learning from those who have managed us, AND from those we manage. In Joan Magretta’s book ‘What Management Is’ she brings a great point to light; “respect the individual.”  Joan states “Management may create the context that makes performance possible, but it is individuals who perform.”  We need to understand that all members of our crews are different, and each has different potentials.  Respect those potentials and coach them to be their best, that’s what management is.  As we find our potential, we can then relate that experience to leading our teams, thus, accomplishing much more on the course.

Networking & Technology
Another great word to focus on is ‘Networking.’  Do you remember the saying ‘it’s not who you are it’s who you know?”  The unfortunate reality is, the adage speaks the truth.  It is up to you to grow and retain your network.  By that I mean, keep in contact with everyone you meet.  For example, if you attend a conference and you listen to a speaker, email that person and thank them for his or her time.  After that follow up with an email a few months later, detailing how you used the information you learned in that session to better yourself.  Always keep in mind that a simple email from time to time can go along way in a person remembering you, and you never know when the contacts you make could help you.  Having a large and diverse network is also a great tool to get advice when you may need it.  Getting many differing opinions on jobs, new chemicals, or just life in general is a great way to enhance your decision making process. 

With today’s social media scene, growing and maintaining your network couldn’t be easier.  With tools like LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and personal blogs, it’s much easier for you to attract new opportunities and keep in contact with acquaintances you’ve made along the way.  These tools are very powerful, in that, as markets continue to evolve, people and businesses will lean more heavily on social media and it is of great importance to use these tools to your advantage.  The book Searching For A Job Using Social Media suggests that we keep in mind the importance of keeping your profiles updated and professional; you never know how people who look at your LinkedIn profile, or your Facebook page may perceive you. 

Speaking of new technologies, I can’t tell you how many people you will encounter who don’t know how to use a basic word processing, or spreadsheet application such as Microsoft Word or Excel.  These tools can be used in our industry as leverage by creating powerful, neat, and organized spreadsheets and reports.  The more you know about these types of applications, the better you can manage your own crew, and one day, your whole maintenance operation.  I was fortunate enough to work with Kyle Jacobsen at Twin Orchard Country Club in Long Grove, IL.  He had developed a spreadsheet with complex coding that allowed us to input every job each member of our crew did that day, and how long that particular task took.  At the end of the season, the spreadsheet allowed us to create a chart that showed where our labor hours where being spent.  This information then justified the amount of people we had on staff, as it provided a visual aid for our General Manager and the membership.  Now, this is just one example of the use of technology in our business, and the list could get quite extensive if I continued.  The bottom line here is simple; learn to embrace these tools and use these new technologies to your advantage, after all, ‘knowledge is power.’

Take some of this information and apply it to your own career.  The market for promotion is small in this economy, and we need to do what we can to separate ourselves from others.  With the aforementioned in mind, I want to close with a list of points to supplement this article:

LEADERSHIP

• Remember being successful in this industry is representing and applying a better way to do something than existing alternatives
• Create an environment of community and friendship
• Identify individual strengths and develop them
• Set challenging goals for yourself
• Be assertive, and hands-on

NETWORKING & TECHNOLOGY

• Gain a better understanding of technologies you have at hand
• Attend professional functions and engage with others
• Don’t forget past employers, as they can be powerful references
• Communication, develop ways to communicate using email, twitter, ETC.

Once again, I hope this information provides you some guidance, and will improve your confidence in your capabilities.  Until the time comes when we step up to the next level, the best we can do is work on expanding our knowledge and network, and committing to becoming a leader at our facility, as one day, we will be called upon to take the reigns. When that day comes, we can be confident in our abilities and become the next leaders in this industry.
 

About the author
Brian J. DeVries is sssistant golf course superintendent at Cascade Hills Country Club in Kentwood, Mich.