How important to you is making Business Connections?

Sometimes these questions I am asked cause me to react with a…”Duh?!”  But after finding out who is asking and where they come from in the business world I now see how important making business connections is NOT for some people in business….but should be.

As is the case every year about this time, golf associations start their yearly tournament and golf outing season which means there are a lot of ‘kick off’ gatherings for golf networking groups.

Recently I overheard a conversation of ladies having drinks after their annual EWGA (Executive Women Golf Association) kick-off.  The statements I was hearing this group of business golfers having been again confirmed that the mixing of the two business golfer cultures in golf networking groups sometimes does not work..especially if the golf networking group leadership does not address managing the two distinct business interests.

The two business cultures that sometimes clash are the corporate/large business first line to middle-level executives and the business owner sole proprietor entrepreneurs.

Corporate Business Golfer Culture

For the Division, District, Director, Assistant VP or Manager of a large business or corporations their day to day activities very seldom touch any of the aspects of promoting their business. In most cases, there is nothing that produces a drive for them to see that there is any need to make business connections.  OH, they see clearly the need to represent their business identity and do so when they are directed to by their superiors.  In fact, with the internal training that these top-level managers received in developing their HR, presentation and inter-personal relationship skills they make some of the best business representatives any business could have but seldom are released into the real business world to use them.

This lack of feeling a need to connect with other business people for business purposes develops into an attitude that once they step out of the office, or clock out for the day, for any reason, that they are on their time… ‘I’m not on the ‘company’s dime’..‘so I do what I want to do’ …which in the golf networking group arena usually you will hear…

‘I am not here for business or to talk business..I do that all day long for someone else.  I’m just here to get away from the office, housework, kids and hang out, have drinks and play golf’.

Business Owner/Entrepreneur Business Golfer Culture

For the growing world of business people who have a defined mission in life find building a business is their life.   They are their business and that covers everything they touch from the time they wake in the morning to when they pass out from exhaustion which may not be during the same day.

Don’t get me wrong, the business owners and those people who are sole proprietors of enhancing their revenue horizons also disconnect from the business world for short periods of time.  They have to to keep from going crazy.  However, they have an instinct that drives them to want to ‘connect’ with every living being.

There is nothing wrong with being a business owner.  In fact, this part of the business sector is the fastest growing.  In the business owner or entrepreneur sector, it is common to hear encouraging words like “how can I help” and “how was your day” as lead-ins to talking business.   In the golf arena, it is common to hear…

“I am not sure what I would do if I had not learned to play golf. I know my business would not be anywhere near where it is today without golf”

It was interesting to hear these ladies’ conversations go on and on with what seemed to be a purposeful bantering conversation that highlighted the two business cultures differences.  However, it was the turn of the conversations towards them addressing their different business philosophies and the reason for being a member of the EWGA that got me to leaning a little bit closer to make sure I was hearing what I was hearing clearly.

I even took note of what I heard and when I got to the office produced this matrix outlining how they addressed their reasoning of doing business and how golf was part of it..or not.

The fact that these ladies are members of the EWGA is not the point.  In fact, this conversation goes on within men’s groups as well so it is the nature of the beast.  However, it also is up to the organization to manage these difference if they are interested in growing or more importantly, keeping important members within their flock.

Golf Networking Group for the Different Cultures

It is not that these two different viewpoints of business and golf come from two different universes but do come from two different schools of thought.  One group has a very structured environment of who does what and when and the other has structure but uses it to accomplish their professional interests.  Both groups play a part in the global economy and in golf.

There are some commonalities which mostly falls on the golf side of the interest.  On both sides, there are those who like a more competitive test of golf skills.  There are business golfers in the corporate arena that can tee it up with the best in the business owner arena..and at the end of the day find the time they have spent was very satisfying mentally, physically and business-wise.

There also are join interest within both camps for the social part of golf.  However to a few in both camps they would rather the golf they play be less competitive and more social.  Golf to this group seems to get in the way of their time to socialize.

Eventually, these two viewpoints cause a friction which comes when the organization or networking groups create a golf environment too serious or too social.  There is very little middle ground between these two viewpoints.  This is where clear guidance on which way the organization will manage the golf must be given.  It is unfortunate that many of the golf networking groups are only out to fill the room and not really wanting to address what takes place on the golf course since it would deter many of the members from participating as a member.

There are ways of making golf both challenging and social but only when the golf that is being played is declared as being Business Golf.  Business Golf in golf networking is defined by managing the golf on the golf course as straight up golf and the after golf activity as straight up business social.  There is no reversing the roles by putting the social on the course and the golf in the meeting room.

It is beyond being tough to manage the two cultures of golf, the two cultures of society and the two cultures of business especially when there is no stated clear common denominator. So the best thing for a group or organization to do is to declare the common ground it will cover and let their membership declare their interest to support it or move on to a group that meets their needs better.

It does not help Golf when the business and social cultures clash.  Let me know how I can help.