Sweating on the Technique

When I had the opportunity to meet up with one of my best mates (Simon) to play a few rounds of golf in Scotland I jumped at the chance. It is like a pilgrimage - to go to the place where the game was invented. For Aussies and Americans we have our version of the game, and everything wonderful we bring to it, but Scotland - its 'god's country' as the locals call it. There is a spiritual element to it.

We played three rounds on three very different and magnificent courses in the East Lothian area. It is like Hawaii for surfers or The French Alps for skiers. Literally, the local parks have golf holes and families take their clubs to picnics. If you are born in these parts you have a golf club put into your hands before you can walk.

I had a great time and played some of the best golf I have ever played (always a bonus). But, I lost our little competition between the two of us. I won the first day, narrowly lost the second day, and on the third day I started hot, Simon came back and it was neck and neck before I did something less-than-intelligent. I smashed a ball deep deep deep out of bounds from the tee. It went close to 80 metres right of where I wanted it to go.

My first thought was the club I used, I exclaimed to myself, "I knew I shouldn't have used it! I always struggle with the 3-wood, and hadn't used it all day!" But, I used it again for my replacement ball and this time it went near where I was aiming.

This is the moment I lost our weekend competition.
Over a silly little technique error. Technique errors cost us a lot and we are making them every day.
Image Source: Paul Farina

We continued, but I had lost many shots on this hole, Simon played consistently on the next few, and then with about six holes to go he had an unassailable lead. The comp was over and we spent the rest of the round just enjoying the scenery and the experience (which was wonderful in of itself).

Days later we sent each other photos and videos on Whatsapp of our trip. And, unbeknown to me, Simon had taken video of the very shot I blazed into oblivion. What I saw shocked and stunned me. Not only did it show I had a little more winter padding than I thought (the health drive is in full speed activation when I return home!), but it showed a damning reason why I hit the ball out of bounds - I was aiming there!

The yellow circle is my intended target. The teal line is my actual alignment. The green circle indicates where the ball actually went. In the moment, I thought I had made a bad swing at the ball. It was actually a really good swing and the ball went almost exactly where I was aiming. My alignment was the issue. It had nothing to do with the club, my swing, or anything else I thought was the problem. A small example of unconscious incompetence causing a large error.
Image Source: Simon Turner

It is something other playing partners have mentioned to me. Occasionally, I close my stance and end up aiming far right of my intended target (this is called misalignment). I have no idea when I do this (or why I do this). I find it weird to be honest. I don't mean to do it, I don't realise when I am doing it, and I don't even know it is the reason why things go pear shaped when they do. It is bizarre.

But, it is a great example of a simple technique error that has great consequence.

This is exactly what is happening in our professional settings. We are never taught how to build or manage a timeline. We aren't even taught how to have a conversation. We aren't taught how to empower or support performance in others. We aren't taught how to create succession, or even how to ascertain realistic expectations for our current team. I know this because you tell me.

A majority of people wind up in professions they didn't study at university. The majority of leaders are good hard working people that have done well at lower levels and/or have built a strong network. People from CEO level down continue to tell me, "I'm not sure why things work or don't work, I'm just doing my best and overall things tends to work out okay".

This shows how resourceful and adaptable we humans are. But, I wonder, if we sweated on our technique a little more how much better would our outputs be? Or, how much easier our current outputs come?

Isolating and understanding where the small tweaks can be made creates huge jumps. If I stamped out my 'alignment issues' how many shots would it save me on the golf course? On this day it would be anywhere between 6-8 shots (maybe more considering how much angst and lowered confidence it caused!) That is about 10%. If I was to offer you 10% increase in output from you and your team would that be attractive?

This is why I invest in golf coaching - to understand the Unconscious Incompetence I have. It is why all of us need to be investing in this discussion for our professional work. Observing and investigating, then learning and practicing. Honing ones technique is an ongoing discipline.

Those putting energy into this compound their efforts and accelerate in their pursuits. An exciting and highly accessible action for all professionals. And, hack golfers alike!

Banner Image Source: Simon Turner