Watching pros playing golf has something calming. That is when one takes the time to see how they play one hole after the other. It can remind of one’s own game.
At the same time, the way they play is also creative, beautiful, and extraordinary which makes it impressive. Their performance is extraordinary.
The challenge one is faced with as an amateur is to integrate both parts of the experience.
There is one that is similar to one’s own game. Just like an amateur, pros will explain that the major percentage of their shots don’t work out as planned. The percentage of what they perceive as a miss is not that much better than what amateurs consider a miss. On the other hand, pros have an incredible ability to imagine shots and execute them. Most amateurs will only hope that the good shots they imagine will happen to them.
Whatever one sees as a spectator, is only what is visible to one’s expertise and assessment of performance. The pro will have a different experience and appreciation of his performance.
The gap between both is the space into which people project their idea of their ideal performance.
When an amateur steps onto his first tee he can choose. Will he determine what his performance needs to be while comparing himself with what he saw the pro do? Or will he determine his performance according to his level of training and ability to play under the given circumstances?
What does he expect of himself?
Will he focus on his ideal performance and decide to be satisfied the day he plays like a pro? Or will he stay connected to the shots he can create one after the other? Will it be his ability to do the latter that will transform the experience into a satisfying one? Thus, accepting the ups and downs of his experienced performance? Will he see how his results have been the best possible on that day? Or will he focus on the measured results and forget how he dealt with the ups and downs?
One’s relationship with performance is a choice of attitude.
And a choice that has a major influence on one’s leadership.
