PGA of Canada

35 The Head Professionals interviewed for this research seemed to live by the creed reflect- ed in these well-known sayings: "nothing ven- tured, nothing gained" or "if at first you don't succeed, try, try again." They believe their true poten al is unknown and therefore have the ability to take on chal- lenges without fearing the outcome and ac- quire new skills without placing self-restraints on their poten al to learn and grow. Having a growth mindset allowed these Head Professionals to: • Set challenging personal and career goals without fear of failure • Enthusias cally accept new roles, challenges and responsibili es • Work hard and persist when things got tough • Accurately self-assess their progress towards these goals (whether their progress was successful and/or when they experienced failure). • Admit when they were in trouble and ask for help • Proac vely seek, receive and accept honest feedback from others on their performance • Make personal changes in how they acted They never thought they were too big to fail, even as they experience early career success, and they remained humble and open-mind- ed to any opportuni es presented, ideas and feedback from others. Volunteer for various club events that you know nothing about or once you get your Class "A", volunteer for a PGA of Canada Zone board. -- Dus n Kerr-Taylor Go to the head pro or GM and ask to par cipate on (or a end) a club commi ee…don't sit back… you need to force yourself into these situa ons… most Head Pros will support you asking. -- Lindsay Bernakevitch RECOMMENDATION: ADOPT A GROWTH MINDSET To benefit from new and challenging experiences and/ or internalize the feedback from a respected mentor, aspiring Head Professionals who acquire a high poten al or growth mindset are at a tremendous advantage. An inability to learn in a world of constant change will inevitably result in poor job performance and career stagna on. Learning quickness, curiosity, accep ng help and/or ideas from others, and the ability to incorporate these new ideas to adapt to new situa ons are characteris cs present in every Head Professionals interviewed for this report. The following ac ons are reflec ve on having acquired a growth mindset and have been proven to help aspiring golf professionals accelerate their careers: 1. Visualize what you want to be, what job you want, and set goals so you have a target. 2. Aggressively seek out on-the-job challenges that you have never done before and work harder than anyone else to complete them to the best of your ability. 3. Iden fy someone who will give you unfiltered, truthful feedback on how you are doing, and especially, on how you are coming across to others (remember, it's not just what you are doing, but how you're doing it that is important). 4. Set me aside and reflect on how you are doing, how you are ac ng, and what you are learning; be honest with yourself and then incorporate any new beliefs or skills into prac ce so they become habits. One cau on: The Head Professionals interviewed for this research stressed that a balance is needed between a willingness to seek out new challenges, being eager to learn and trying new things and having respect for the established systems, processes, and culture of the golf club/facility (especially those with great history and an elite status). As these Head Professionals matured in their career and developed greater awareness of themselves and others, they were able to stay out of trouble by balancing their desire for change with showing the appropriate respect for long-standing tradi ons that would cause simply too much disrup on if challenged.

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