Why Are Leadership And Golf Similar? Lessons To Learn For Leaders

Are you relying on just one ‘club’ in your leadership style when you need a full set to succeed?

Legendary professional golfer Sam Snead once said, “Forget your opponents; always play against par!”.

For those not familiar with golf terms, par is the number of strokes a player needs to complete a hole. It’s the score players aspire to achieve. The fewer strokes they need, the higher the score and the more skilled they are.

To achieve that, they have to master various specific technical skills. It’s not just about striking the ball.

In that sense, leadership is similar to golf.

A golf player needs to train and master skills varying from strategy and approach planning to putting, striking, and even assessing weather conditions.

Similarly, you, as a leader, need to learn various diverse skills and, in fact, develop the skill of learning new things quickly and effectively while unlearning anything that doesn’t serve you.

leadership skills

As a leader, you can’t rely on one approach or leadership style, just as a golfer cannot rely on one club for every shot.

Each club in a golf player’s bag serves a specific purpose, from driving long distances to navigating tricky bunkers.

Similarly, each skill, approach or style in your “bag” can be used for specific purposes and goals, whether that involves reading the room (just like judging the wind before a shot), thoughtfully and delicately managing stakeholders (like choosing which club to use for a par 3), or skillfully resolving tensions (like making a putt on a sloped green).

Great leaders, like skilled golfers, relentlessly build versatility by mastering the use of every ‘club’ at their disposal.

That’s the only way to stay ahead of the game, grow as a person and professional, and lead with genuine impact.

It’s not about stepping out of your comfort zone for the sake of it; it’s about being curious, open, and flexible to learn and incorporate new skills, competencies and approaches into your leadership.

I can help you achieve exactly that by sharpening your “golf game,” levelling up, and developing a more adaptive leadership style.

What if one weekly question can change the way you lead and shape your career?

Each week, I share insights and prompts to help you step back, gain clarity, and lead yourself (and others) with intention, not just reaction.