The Power of a Single Swing Thought ⛳️

I grew up surrounded by the game of golf.

There are more golf courses in the Palm Springs area where I was raised than anywhere else on the West Coast – around 130. When I was in first grade, we lived near a driving range, and my friends and I used to collect the lost range balls that veered into the trees. 

My brother-in-law is a PGA-certified pro. I worked summers on the course, washing clubs, picking up balls off the range, and driving carts. Then I married the daughter of a golf course superintendent. 

I still remember as a teenager getting in to watch a professional tournament called the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, where celebrities would compete alongside PGA professionals. Where else could you get Amy Grant AND Jerry Rice’s autographs on the same day?? (I couldn’t be bothered at that age to care about the real professional golfers there that day.)

Spending all that time around golf, you’d think I’d be decent at it. But I assure you, I am not! 

Golf is the type of game that, for me, involves hours upon hours of mild frustration intermingled with moments of exhilaration.

If you are a fan of golf, you know that this week is the Masters Tournament. Played at the famed Augusta National golf course, it’s easily one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the world. 

So in honor of the Masters, let’s look at two lessons that you and I can learn from the world of golf to apply to our leadership today.

The Value of a Good Coach

Growing up surrounded by golf, I know many of the tips and tricks golfers use to improve their swing - form, rhythm, speed, follow-through, etc.

If you and I were golfing, and you asked me for feedback, I think I could give you decent advice. For example, I might say slow down your backswing, keep your head still, rotate your hips, and make sure you follow through completely. 
The problem is, while each of those pieces of advice might be right, they probably won’t be helpful. If you are anything like me, this is what you’ll feel like at some point:

But, let’s say instead you hired a PGA-certified professional to coach you, like my brother-in-law, Eric. Eric would watch you for a minute or two, and then give you ONE piece of advice. He might say, “think about letting your wrists turn over naturally as you swing through.”

Then he’d give you time to practice, just thinking about that one thing.

What’s the difference between me and a skilled coach, like Eric? Although I can advise you on perhaps 20 things you should do, Eric has the experience to narrow it down to ONE thing. That one thing in golf is called a swing thought, which we’ll unpack shortly.

The difference between an average coach and a great coach is that the great coach can cut through the clutter and zero in on the ONE thing.

One of the most significant values I provide for my clients is the ability to discern and cut through the clutter to what they should focus on. We all have had that sense of “I have so many things that I feel like I should be doing right now, but I can’t do everything.” My clients value my coaching on where to focus next. I might consider dozens of possibilities, but the real value is identifying what ONE thing they should focus on right now. 

💡 Takeaway: There is nothing like investing in a good coach. Someone skilled who has gone before you, who will take the time to get to know you, observe you and who has the experience and wisdom to give you concrete, focused advice. 

The Power of a Single Swing Thought

It takes about 1.5 seconds to complete a swing, from start to finish. 

As we’ve already established, it’s counterproductive to think of too many things when swinging a golf club. Instead of having a natural, smooth motion, the overthinking golfer is stiff and erratic.

One of the best things a golfer can do is identify one thought they can have in mind as they take their swing. One thought that calms the mind and simplifies things, leading to many other things falling into place. 

In fact, the idea of a swing thought is not really about *thinking* at all. Instead, it’s about clearing the mind so the natural, subconscious mind can take over. 

I’ll share an example “swing thought” from my life. 

When I do public speaking, I try to have one overriding thought in mind, both as I prepare and especially as I speak.

That swing thought for me is “bless the audience.” It’s not about me. It’s not about saying the right words. It’s not about getting the performance just right. The thought that focuses me, calms my spirit, and gets me in the right frame of mind is “bless the audience.” When I’m focused on blessing my audience, everything goes better.

💡 Takeaway: Identify one area of your life where you could benefit from a single swing thought. Perhaps something you tell yourself at the beginning of each day that gets you in the right frame of mind.

The Surprising Solution to Overthinking

One of the best resources I’ve seen recently on the topic of overthinking is a book by author Jon Acuff called Soundtracks: The Surprising Solution to Overthinking.

Jon is a fantastic communicator, and he’s hilarious too. I had the privilege to meet Jon last year after he spoke at the Global Leadership Summit. 

Here’s just a tease of one of the simple-but-powerful insights that he then unpacks for readers:

“One of the greatest mistakes you can make in life is assuming all your thoughts are true.” - Jon Acuff

We so often just accept our thoughts as they come to us. We take them in as if they are all true, but often the negative soundtracks in our minds are simply not true. What a helpful insight!

For those of us with kids or grandkids, Jon also wrote a version of the book with his two daughters aimed at kids and teens called Your New Playlist: The Student’s Guide to Tapping into the Superpower of Mindset.

I highly recommend it to you. 

Until next week… Swing easy! ⛳️ 

(Although, to be honest, I should probably yell Fore! 🏌️)

   - Dave

About the Author | Dave Raley

Consultant, speaker, and writer Dave Raley is the founder of Imago Consulting, a firm that helps non-profits and businesses create profitable growth through sustainable innovation. He’s the author of a weekly trendspotting report called The Wave Report, and the co-founder of the Purpose & Profit Podcast — a show about the ideas at the intersection of nonprofit causes and for-profit brands.

Want to receive insights like this weekly?

Every Friday, we send out The Wave Report, highlighting one trend or insight “wave,” from donor and consumer trends to innovation in different industries or new models for growth.

Subscribe today to receive free weekly insights in your inbox here: