Three words that described the Ryder Cup were pressure, performance and pride!
The previous 10 times the Ryder Cup was played before this week, going back to 1995, the Americans won it just twice. The last time the USA hosted this event, in 2012, the U.S. team squandered a 10-6 lead on the final day to lose by a point.
And now, this:
“Our guys handled the pressure,” U.S. captain Davis Love III said Sunday evening when asked what made him most proud. “The Europeans came in here and played unbelievable golf, from Rory (McIlroy) all the way through, there was a lot of stunning golf. Phil put up 10 birdies and only got a halve. But our team rallied together and … everybody did their part.”
There were so many lessons learned from the Ryder Cup that can be transferred to business. The three lessons I learned while attending the final day.
- Pressure – The mental and physical pressure each player experienced for three days was incredible. The highs of hitting the perfect shot or putt to the lows of missing the shot left or in the water. They had to recover quickly and not lose confidence on the next shot. They had to stay mentally strong. They had to make quick adjustments and assess that if they were in that position again what could they do differently to change the outcome. In sales we experience the pressure as well. It is a mental game we play each day. If we fall short, we can learn from that experience so we can gain a better outcome and confidence when faced with that situation in the future. The pressure to stay mentally strong through the sales process and exceed all revenue expectations. Do you have an environment of excellence?
- Performance – USA rallied and understood the importance of doing their part all three days and in the final round. They understood what was at stake and the extreme focus and impact of each shot taken to winning their match. They understood that they were one piece of the puzzle to the picture. In business each team member needs to execute their role and understand the impact their performance has on the team. Is there an opportunity to improve your team’s performance?
- Pride – A winning environment, the energy and enthusiasm from the crowd chanting USA. USA! In addition, those watching it on TV were united with the same vision for their country to take home the Ryder Cup trophy. Everyone including the players and the fans cheered and supported each other through every shot. If a player missed a shot, they were lifted by the crowd to continue on and move forward. Everyone plays a part in creating a winning environment. Is there an opportunity to build more pride in your organization?
What three words best describe your thoughts on the Ryder Cup?