The power of the notebook! A must-have tool for club professionals

After attending an exhilarating MDP last November Damien Connolly takes time out to share a drop-the-mic moment which has changed his attitude to capturing conversations and observations. Enter the notebook.

As those of us who have attended an MDP know, the learning throughout the week never stops. The evening review and sharing of experiences over dinner or a nightcap can add massively to the day’s learning, help clarify certain areas and add real-life experiences to the mix. Some of these pearls of wisdom from these debriefs will really stick with you – and there’s one in particular I felt was well worth sharing.

While attending MDP Golf last November, the ‘mic drop’ moment in question happened during a spirited discussion on club governance. Midway through the conversation, one of our esteemed colleagues reached into his pocket for a pen and paper to jot down a note on a particularly insightful tidbit that had just been shared by one of the attendees.

I know it doesn’t sound ground-breaking, but this action led the three non-notetakers in the discussion fourball to pause and glance at each other, all thinking the same thing. Wow, that must be a seriously valuable piece of information if it warrants being written down.

This act of jotting down a note now and again continued over the evening, and I decided that this was definitely a practice I would try once I got back home from MDP. Keeping a notebook close is a habit that has stuck since, and I want- ed to share the findings with you as it could be well worth considering adding a notebook to your management toolbelt.

So, what did I find myself jotting down in my notebook over the past few months, and what were the benefits? I grouped these into three areas:

1. Capturing observations and ideas

As a club professional, you constantly encounter new ideas and observations that could benefit your facility. However, these ideas can quickly disappear unless you write them down. That’s where a small notebook comes in handy. By carrying one, you can quickly jot down your thoughts, observations and ideas before they slip away.

2. Casual conversation notes

If you work at a desk, you’ll know that the simple act of looking up from your computer can result in conversations with team members, committees, members or guests. Having your notebook ready is a great tool to keep track of those tasks you promise to take of or issues you will investigate. I have had some great wins following up with members and staff on the small things mentioned in passing. When tackling tricky conversations with an unhappy customer, using a notebook to convey the seriousness of the issue at hand has also helped defuse situations.

3. A brain dumping ground

The club industry attracts really passionate people who care about their clubs. This can lead to a lot of time thinking about work, whether onsite or not. It can be 8 pm, and you are out walking the dog or sitting in traffic on the way to a football game when the intrusive thoughts of to-do lists can drift into your mind. Having a braindumping ground to jot down these thoughts and to-do lists was a game changer in clearing my mind outside of work and letting me relax a bit more, knowing I would not forget them.

Can’t I just take notes on my phone?

While it’s possible to record notes on your phone when in mid-conversation, pulling your phone out of your pocket and tapping away with it will likely have a negative effect on the conversation flow. The person speaking to you can quickly jump to thinking ‘is the manager still listening to me? Are they answering a text?’. However, suppose a manager reaches into their pocket to take the time to jot down a handwritten note. In that case, this is a much more powerful indication that you are listening to the person, are present in the conversation and will take action in the future.

The final reason to try to keep your phone in your pocket for personal notes and ‘brain dumping’ is that taking your phone out can be a massive distraction that will soon have you scrolling Instagram or checking emails. Concentrate on getting your thoughts and getting them on paper to claim back some calm in your mind.

Bonus tip

To get the most from your note-taking skills, I recommend setting aside time each day to review your notes. Decide what’s of value and worth keeping and add things to do to your task management system or keep those titbits in a safe place that can be easily accessed when you need it (more on this ‘second brain’ in a future article!).

At the end of this article, I wonder if your mind has lingered on what that governance insight was that led to the first note being jotted down and starting this notebook journey. Honestly, it was brilliant, and I would love to share that with you, but unfortunately, I have no idea as I didn’t write it down! I won’t let the next one escape so easily.