A good caddie is more than a mere assistant. He is guide, philosopher, and friend.” — Henry Longhurst
On Saturday afternoon at the Masters golf tournament, Phil Mickelson was doggedly chasing leader Jordan Spieth. A birdie at the ninth hole moved Mickelson to minus 10 for the tournament, just four strokes behind.
As he moved toward the back nine, where left-handers historically perform better than right-handers, Mickelson was brimming with confidence. And fans sensed the excitement as they streamed from all points of the course to join the masses already following this much-adored golfer.
On number 13, a par five most professionals can reach in two shots, and thus a good prospect for the much sought after eagle [two less than par], “Lefty” striped his drive down the left side of the fairway. Carefully contemplating his next shot, and the potential to pick up a stroke or two on the leader, Mickelson warily traded glances between his ball and the narrow sliver of green jealously guarded by a creek in front and sand traps in the rear.
As usual, he discussed the shot with his trusted caddie, Jim “Bones” Mackay, eventually pulling a 5 metal from his bag. After momentarily brooding over the ball, Mickelson backed off with uncertainty written all over his face. The normally confident risk taker was not so sure he had the right club and was clearly not committed to the shot.
Mackay immediately recognized the situation. He approached Mickelson and the conversation, captured by the nearby CBS camera and sound crew, was priceless.
[To paraphrase the conversation] Phil to Mackay, “not sure about this one.” Mackay responds, “it’s 225 to the front of the green, 240 to the pin. That is exactly the right club for you. Just swing easy and move it a little left to right.” Mickelson returned to the ball infused with confidence and promptly placed his shot on the putting surface. Two putts later he was on his way to a three- hole birdie run that ended with a miraculous 41-foot putt on the 16th [he earned par on the 14th hole] and a minus 12 overall score.
This interaction underscores the valuable role caddies play in the performance and success of professional golfers. First, the trusted advisor decreases the player’s workload by carrying the bag, making sure the equipment is in proper working condition, fixing divots, raking sand traps, and other sundry duties. Moreover, given the hectic lifestyle and demands for time and attention placed on professional golfers, the caddie provides organizational services that enable his client to focus on revenue generating opportunities, both on and off the course.
Second, caddies provide a psychological benefit. This facet of the services framework deals with the gathering and sharing of vital information that is invaluable in making and committing to decisions about how to perform specific shots. Masters winner Jordan Spieth’s caddie reportedly spent 45-minutes with Carl Jackson, the successful longtime caddie for Ben Crenshaw, going into great detail on the best way to play each hole given the final day pin placements. As most business leaders know all too well, the slightest bit of doubt or uncertainty can doom a strategy from the outset. Having relevant, timely, and accurate information close at hand is essential. Having someone who knows what to do with that information is nirvana.
Third, caddies help their partners deal with environmental aspects of the game. Weather conditions, the presence of fans and television cameras, competitive influences and other environmental factors outside the player’s control can significantly impact performance. Similarly, the marketplace and its inherent dynamics challenge business leaders on a daily basis. A trusted advisor provides fresh perspectives and objective insights that help you negotiate such environmental hazards with the least amount of trepidation and interference.
Finally, the shared risk and reward aspect of the trusted advisor / leader relationship invests their cooperative efforts with familiarity, meaning, and purpose that goes far beyond the ‘lone wolf’ mentality. These relational factors heighten the level of performance while providing motivation to persevere in achieving goals and objectives. Of those fortunate enough to view the telecast, who can honestly say they were not moved by the reuniting of Ben Crenshaw with his long-time friend and caddie Carl Jackson, as the former completed his final competitive round at the Masters? Jackson later said on a scale of 1 to 100, the moment rated a 100.
Every successful business leader needs a “Bones” Mackay or Carl Jackson in their life. A trusted advisor who not only takes some of their workload off their back, but keeps them organized and provides valuable information and confidence when it comes time for making critical decisions and committing to a plan. The question is, “who’s your caddie?”
Are you truly committed to your go-to-market strategy? Does the entirety of your organization share the vision? Is your execution focused and flawless? As your trusted advisor MindMeld provides guidance, proven methods and processes, and open and honest consultation in developing and executing business strategies that engage clients and employees alike. To learn more contact Doug Knuth at doug.knuth@mindmeldmarketing.com.