Power of the Pivot: Leading Through Imperfect Conditions

Key takeaways

• Preparation is key in golf, business and life.
• Cultivating grit can help you handle unexpected obstacles with grace.
• A growth mindset can pay dividends in golf and in your professional life.
• Golf is a networking tool that could boost your professional life.
• New to golf? Start small but don’t be afraid to get out on the green.

Golf and leadership share the same principle: Small decisions, repeated effectively, create big results. Ashaunta Epps, recognized as an LPGA Top 50 Best Teacher and Class A Member, joined us for a professional development session inspired by her book, A Perfect Swing: Lessons in Perseverance, Purpose, and Preparation from the Fairway of Life. Epps shared step-by-step insights to help you strengthen your focus in high-pressure moments, make strategic decisions with clarity, manage stress and build confidence through repeatable fundamentals on and off the course.

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Summary

What did we learn? Here are the top takeaways from Power of the Pivot: Leading Through Imperfect Conditions:

Preparation is key in golf, business and life.

The backswing – when you move your golf club backward, away from the target – represents the preparation that’s necessary for success both on the golf course and in a professional environment, Epps said. “Our backswing determines our follow-through,” she said, adding that if your aim is to get a new job, your “backswing” might be seeking additional education, getting a mentor, completing an internship, utilizing career resources or networking. “It could be a myriad of different things,” she said, adding, “It all depends on what you’re trying to accomplish and how you see that impacting your life.” Watch at 10:05

Cultivating grit can help you handle unexpected obstacles with grace.

Working on general mental toughness can get you ready for times when something inevitably goes wrong on the golf course or at work, Epps said. For example, when she was taking her Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) player ability test, the wedge she needed wasn’t in her bag due to a caddy error, but she was able to quickly pivot, choose a different club and keep on playing. Working on mental fortitude also builds the resilience needed to manage professional setbacks, from a presentation that didn’t go well to a missed KPI target. You learn to say, “Listen, let’s reset, regroup and move forward so we can accomplish those tasks,” she said. Watch at 15:44

A growth mindset can pay dividends in golf and in your professional life.

Having a growth mindset allows you to avoid viewing a swing or shot that didn’t turn out the way you wanted as a “bad” swing or shot. “It is information, and you allow it to help you make the next decision,” Epps said. You can translate that growth mindset into your work life by accepting feedback, from guidance from company leaders to formal evaluations to input from your peers. “You should digest that, understand it and allow it to fuel you to get to your next step,” she said. Watch at 20:54

Golf is a networking tool that could boost your professional life. 

As a young professional navigating the corporate world, Epps got into golf after learning about company organizational changes her colleagues had discussed on the golf course. “There’s the perception that deals are done on the golf course,” Epps said, adding that she sees it a bit differently. “It’s the relationships you build while you’re out there that create the environment for you to close those particular deals.” On a golf course, she observed, you work in tandem with others toward a common goal in a setting that’s more relaxed than a conference room. “The environment creates an opportunity for small talk, for relationship building,” she said. Watch at 27:27

Want to get into golf? Here’s how to get started and reap the business benefits.

You can start golfing without a huge upfront investment, Epps said. “I would say start small,” she said, adding that you only need about five clubs at first: a driver, a hybrid, a putter, a 7-iron and a wedge. She recommends learning chipping and putting in a golf clinic environment and then taking at least one full-swing individual golf lesson with a certified golf instructor. And remember the importance of preparation: Brush up on etiquette, know the format (for example, best ball vs. scramble) and bring the right supplies, including balls, tees, a glove, a towel and hydration. “Don’t stay at the driving range for years. Go play,” she said. “You don’t have to be a good golfer, or a super golfer, to benefit from being in the golf environment.” Watch at 36:20

Webinar resources

• Visit Epps’ website.
• Watch Epps’ interview with LPGA Commissioner Craig Kessler.
• Subscribe to Epps’ podcast, A Perfect Swing Podcast: Lessons in Golf, Business, Leadership and Life. 

Speaker

 
Ashaunta A. Epps 
CEO/Founder, A Perfect Swing, Inc., LPGA Class A Member, Top 50 Best Teacher

Host

Joan Woodward
President, Travelers Institute; Executive Vice President, Public Policy, Travelers