We Do It Because We Care
Those of us who enjoy reading, and listening, to business thought leaders have at some point read or listened to Simon Sinek. Sinek, for those who may think his name sounds familiar, is the author of “Start With Why,” and “Leaders Eat Last.”
I’ve actually had the pleasure of meeting Sinek, informally. He was getting coffee in San Francisco with his business partner, I was with my wife, and we had to at the very least say hello. My wife Suzi is the Chief Nursing Officer for Providence Health Care. In her position, she developed and then deployed across the health system a new approach to a more authentic, empathetic brand of patient care. Her program is based largely upon Sinek’s philosophy. His views on business and leadership applies to many sectors. It applies to golf just as much as it applies to healthcare.
One of my favorite Sinek discussions is around the importance of showing care for those you are asked to lead, for your team. As we continue to navigate the ebb and flow of Covid’s impact on our professional and personal lives, his is a timely reminder that each of us holds a critical role in the lives of those around us.
Sinek loves to tell the story of former U.S. Army Captain William D. Swenson. In 2009, Captain Swenson was on an operation in Afghanistan, near the Pakistan border. In the midst of his mission, he and his men were ambushed. The ambush was devastating. Many of Captain Swanson’s men were injured. During this ambush, Swenson called for air support. Selfless, Swanson ran through enemy fire to rescue the wounded. The entire, harrowing ordeal was recorded by a GoPro camera on one of the medic’s helmets. With two of his fellow soldiers, Swenson brought in a severely wounded sergeant to a helicopter for medical evacuation. What is most striking about the video is that you see Swenson bend over and give the wounded sergeant a kiss on his forehead before he turns around to rescue more.
Sinek points out this gesture was unusual—and important. It was a leader showing intense care for one of his subordinates. Sinek’s analysis of the situation is instructive for all of us. “In the military, they give medals to people who sacrifice themselves so that others may gain,” says Sinek. “In business, they give bonuses to people who sacrifice others so that they may gain.”
It’s not that people in the military are inherently better than those in business—it’s just a different environment. What makes that environment so “different?” For starters, it’s one that values—and rewards—trust and cooperation. Not too surprising, success is best achieved in that environment because there is trust and cooperation. How is this any different than our respective environments? It’s not.
We don’t need to run through gunfire to earn our teams’ trust, but have we asked ourselves lately what could we do to inspire a heightened sense of cooperation at work and at home? We in the PNWPGA talk a great deal about alignment—everyone pulling in the same direction. We do this because it is necessary and because it works.
Consider the new kinds of successes each of us might enjoy if we not only pulled in the same direction, but did so in an environment where no matter a colleague’s rank or responsibility within the organization they trusted that the person to the right and to the left of them shared the same priorities. As leaders, each of us has the opportunity—and the privilege—to create this environment. I encourage us to intentionally do so.
This month I want to say a very special thanks to our Section Sponsors, all of them, for all “pulling in the same direction” with us. I ask that you, too, thank them. A full list with reps’ contact info can be found on Online Member Handbook (web.foretees.com/pnwpga).
This month I am very pleased to announce a new and exciting addition to our family of Section Sponsors, Farmers Insurance & the Jared Bouchey Agency. The Jared Bouchey Agency is now a Section event sponsor as well as the creators of the “Jared Bouchey Agency Hole in One Fund.” Their generous sponsorship is $15,000 per year, for a three-year term ($45,000). Funds will be used to sponsor the annual PNWPGA Pro Assistant tournament ($5,000) as well as establish an annual PNWPGA Hole in One Fund ($10,000). In the event no one wins the Hole in One in any year, $5,000 of the original fund is reinvested in the following year, while $5,000 is donated to the PNWPGA Junior Fund.
You will start to see more formal announcements, a QR Code to register for eligibility, and further promotions in the coming weeks. Our very special thanks to Jared Bouchey and the Jared Bouchey Agency for their generous support of the PNWPGA.
I would be remiss, too, if I did not thank each of our participants in the 1% Club. Thanks to you, Madeline Koch and Lillie Mueller were recently awarded scholarships through the Bunny Mason Scholarship. Thank you for your generously supporting the PNWPGA Junior Golf Fund, and for making an indelible mark on these young people’s lives.
Lastly, my personal congratulations to the Hudson Cup Professionals for, once again, defending their respective titles and keeping the Cup out of the hands of our amateur friends. Well done gentlemen!
As always, should I or any member of the Section Staff be able to be of service, never hesitate to contact us. See you all Wednesday, 10/20/21, 7:30, at the Virtual Fall Meeting.
Frank Talarico, CEO