Quote:
Originally Posted by Shawnski
I would look at it differently.
Golfing in a company event is the least intimidating way to try the sport. You may not succeed, but not one of your co-workers will look down upon you for trying, regardless of outcome. It is likely the opposite, they will encourage you and help you do better. If you are giving it your best attempt, people will respect you for that. Thus it is a great team building exercise.
In a nine hole best ball format, out of perhaps three dozen shots you take, only TWO are likely to have to be used (a couple drives). It isn't the end of the world if those two aren't good either. It's for fun.
Trying to do something that is outside your comfort zone shows way more of your character than hiding inside your comfort zone.
Ditto on the karaoke. I had never done it, until a team building event in Kelowna. The biggest wig at the event was one of the four on stage and right beside me. He and I shared one of the two mics. I didn't "feel" like doing it, but if there ever was a time to try, it was then as I was around people I knew.
So I belted out Frank Sinatra's "My Way" as best as I could, and the big wig put his arm around me half way through and said "You are doing great! Thanks for covering for me!". I laughed and we finished together with a flourish.
Our relationship was the better for it. He always knew that regardless of the task or challenge he threw at me, I would give it my best. And if I was severely overloaded, he would say "You prioritize what you think needs to be done and drop the rest." That team building exercise helped build trust and empowerment.
One should look at team building events such as golf/karaoke as opportunities, not threats. Go have fun. Everyone else is.
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Believe it or not, despite being an introvert who doesn't enjoy workplace social outings AT ALL, I've nonetheless been identified as a rising star at my company, and they've invested tens of thousands of dollars in my professional development to send me to numerous management and leadership training courses. One thing I was taught in one of those sessions really stuck out for me in particular.
We were learning about different personality types and communication styles (e.g.
Myers-Briggs,
DISC, etc.), and the instructor told us that it's very important that we learn the behaviour types of our colleagues and direct reports so we can better interact with them on their terms. The reason he gave was this: "You've always been told to treat others how you yourself would like to be treated, but that's wrong. You should treat others how
they would like to be treated."
The point being, not everyone acts and behaves and thinks the same way. What's fun for one person is not necessarily fun for someone else. Some people may be more prone to embarrassment while others just shrug it off or play it up for laughs. As a manager, I make it a point to never put my team members in a position that would make them feel uneasy unless it's absolutely necessary to get the job done or when pushing them out of their comfort zone a bit is good for personal growth (and attending after-work social activities most definitely does not qualify). If one of my employees ever approached me and said they don't enjoy golfing and would prefer not to participate in the company tournament, I would not tell them to suck it up and get over themselves. Instead, I'd ask for a suggestion on an activity they enjoy so they'd be more inclined to attend the next corporate event we organize.