Listen Now: Candid Conversations Podcast #2
Our second Candid Conversations webinar with Tyler Bloom, Dean Graves, Mark Bado and Jodie Cunningham focused on the human side of the crisis. The fundamental question was how do you lead and communicate with employees during this crisis, particularly when tough calls have to be made about furloughs and closures.
Please spend 78 minutes to listen to the podcast (apologies for some video issues on the front end) but here are a few key takeaways:
- Overall: It's a mess. With regulations down to the county or even city level there's no clear-cut advice we can offer anyone about coping agronomically and businesswise that doesn’t have an asterisk on it.
- Mark Bado: The overriding goal is to protect the staff and keep the golfers safe (if you have them). Clubs are being challenged to offer new services like curbside carryout food. Golf and fitness professionals are doing videos and other things to support members from a distance. 501(c)7s aren't eligible for CARES small business funding. There are ways to work with your insurance company to keep furloughed employees covered by health insurance. "Be patient, make sure you're managing up to your board and don't shrivel up. We're all gonna get through this." This is also a good time to reach back to those who mentored you for support and advice. Silver Lining: There's never been a better time to refinance club debt.
- Jodie Cunningham: "As the leader, you have to stay positive." Don't succumb to fear or get negative in tone. Be open about what you're doing to keep the workspace safe but don't be surprised that people will still be scared. Now more than ever, an understanding of each of your employees and how they're wired, what their strengths are (is critical). Who we are naturally comes out in full force when we're under stress." Preparing for the conversations about furloughs or other changes is crucial. The decisions on who to furlough or lay off needs to be based on business needs. Remember you're talking to a person. The follow-up conversation is probably more important than the first conversation. That's when you'll need to check in and answer specific questions or find out how they are. Silver Lining: Everyone is impacted and they probably know it's coming.
- Tyler Bloom: Superintendents...take a deep breath. It's going to be okay. Know your staff! It's okay to be vulnerable. Be proactive and look at what you can control and how it will impact the rebound from this crisis. We're going to eventually have a lot of opportunity to rehire or hire new people. Getting your staff to manage up to you is very important. Silver Lining: Superintendents may have an opportunity to build a new staff that's a better fit for the new normal.
- Dean Graves: Be consistent in caring for your folks. Scan your team's faces and you can tell who's worried or preoccupied and then ask them later what's troubling them. How do you keep your staff safe while they're at work? You need to analyze every aspect of shared spaces and then social distancing while they're in the field. Remember different cultures and backgrounds will react differently to the same circumstances. Silver Lining: Good relationships within your team can become great relationships through this crisis.
- Repeat theme from last week: Focus your money and time “down the middle” not just agronomically but people-wise. What are the core critical things we need to get done? Also manage expectations about what's not going to get done.
Final thoughts...
"This is the time when we really earn our money," said Bado. "This is the time that we really prove who we are and what we do. This is our time to be leaders. Do not let this opportunity slide by you. Step to the plate, be prepared and use the responsibility that we've accepted. If that doesn't get you going, I'm not sure what will."
"Humility is a strength," said Graves. You don't have to have all the answers. You're making yourself vulnerable and you can be intimate. It gives people something to relate you. You care, you communicate. They know you're the still the leader but you're strong in that you're listening to everyone around you and your mind's not made up. It's okay to say I don't know and to realize you don't have all the answers but I'm gonna try and we'll be successful through this."
Learn more:
LISTEN NOW:
Candid Conversations Podcast #2