Great minds need not think alike

Successful businesses are driven by talent. Hard-working passionate men and women with leadership qualities and even aggressive attitudes. In other words, they tend not to be shy about things around them. An additional advantage of hiring talented people is that many are creative. They will come up with new ways to do the things done every day. They will also create ways to drive new business. At a time when talented people have options, it is important to bring your people into the tent. Where people feel like they have a voice for the direction of their work. Here they dig deeper, they sweat the details.

This post is a direct piece about building a cohesive team that can play together longer. As the property leader, allowing your staff members to speak their minds provides advantages that can help both in the immediate as well as the long term. If the leader of a business is always the smartest person in the room, that room may shrink quickly. In 2024 talent seems to go where it can spread its wings. As the leader, you want to always be reading the room, understanding how your people feel about their place in the operation. Certainly, solid pay and perquisites are important pieces to bringing better talent to your business. There is also the need to allow people to step up. Here in this In My Opinion post, I am providing three ideas on why tension, allowing for contrary opinions, can be a very good thing for you and the business.

Allow your people to have a voice: Staff members come from many backgrounds and have very different life experiences. When you allow people the chance to speak up, they gain in confidence and the feeling that this club is a wonderful place to work. No matter the role or the length of experience, allow people to provide their observations and ideas. It can be both a learning experience and a teaching moment. The key is listening. You still hold the gavel.

It is important to bring friction into the tent: Allow people who may not agree with you all of the time to speak their minds, openly and safely. It is good to keep in mind you likely had a hand in hiring most of the team, so allow them to contribute. When employees are encouraged to share their opinions, the culture builds, the service improves, personal satisfaction grows, and people dig ever deeper for ways to add value.

The all-important goal is retaining your best: Inclusion in the planning and the direction of the business can become one grand way of keeping people, thus building a strong team for years to come. When people feel they are being listened to, they will be excited. When the management team is genuine about how they feel and what they believe, you can be on your way to building a growing group of talented men and women. Wouldn’t it be special to be the club that not only has a waiting list for both membership and to become part of the staff?

In the end, there is the group of employees, your team. You are working hard to bring wonderful hospitality to every golfer and every round with that team. When the staff is welcomed inside the tent, very positive things can occur. When people are forced to remain outside of your tent, they pay less attention, offer less personal service, and are likely to dash towards a quick exit. All minds should not think alike. They really don’t in any group of diverse thinkers. By providing space and a voice, you allow for real dialogue that in time will come to one conclusion. As the leader, you will help make that happen. Friction is good. It builds fires, keeps us warm, and produces people who will care about you, your golfers, and your business.

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Jack Dillon writes the In My Opinion blog. Jack can help you in improving communications, service, operations, and purchasing. Jack is a consultant, author, and speaker. Reach out to Jack to discuss how he can support you and your team. Go to www.youdontknowjackd.com to learn more or call Jack at 407-973-6136. Jack is ready to help your operation. He lives in Orlando.