Creating the Desired Relationship

Continued

Many GMs already do many of these actions, and that is great. But a General Manager will spend a significant portion of their time putting out fires or dealing with problems that they never have enough time to get as involved, as they desire, with all the departments. The benefit far outweighs the time invested.

Take this entire thought process and flip it to the Director of Racquets (or aspiring DOR). Does your GM spend time in your department? If not, how do you get him/her more involved? Perhaps tell them you would like a fresh set of eyes on the shop's layout, teaching style, Kids Camp brochure, etc. Everything that I have mentioned that a GM should be doing, a Director of Racquets should want their GM to do. GMs (like most humans) are creatures of habit. Help them create new habits that include racquets. As a Director of Racquets, how much time do you spend in the GM's office? If the buildings are separated, how much time do you spend in the other building? Are you changing your habits? Do you ask for 30 minutes of your GM's time a week to catch up? Do you only venture to the "main building" once a year for budget discussion?

Ultimately the goal is for both the General Manager and the Director of Racquets to have a substantial relationship where each can depend on the other and understand how their action affects the other. I often hear from General Managers that they are frustrated when they feel blindsided by a situation. Nobody wants to listen to a voicemail, read an email, or be standing in front of a member discussing a situation where they have absolutely no knowledge. A healthy and robust relationship with all department heads is the best way to solve this challenge. I would always appreciate a late-night text from my Director of Racquets saying Mrs. Smith complained about the lights out in the parking lot, over having Mr. Smith ask me the following morning if I knew the lights were out in the parking lot. Do you have a relationship with your GM where you can send that text at midnight? Does your Director of Tennis know to send that text at midnight?

Brian all of the club’s amenities, including tennis and racquets

McMahon Careers offers career coaching and executive education programs for racquet sports professionals and executive search services for employers. The firm also manages USPTA Director Search. For more information visit: https://mcmahoncareers.com or https://USPTADirectorSearch.com

In 2020, Brian began presenting the Racquet Sports Strategic Planning and Capital Budgeting module for the Certified Racquet Sports Executive (CRSE) Program, an executive education program for certified Racquet Sports Professionals.