10/15/2012 4:10 PM
Adam,
I learned a very valuable lesson this past summer. I like you was burning the candle at both ends and only took off a few days the whole year. Not because we were watching Bent die, but because I had replaced two assistants and was in the middles of some extensive renovation work. Although we hear all the time to delegate, delegate and delegate and have trust and faith in our employees, I didn't feel like putting my butt on the line. My boss was the one that put the faith back in my decision to hire and train those individuals and to trust them with running the course while I sat home drinking a beer. No, I didn't turn my back on them and leave it all up to them, but I have set specific expectations for my time away, both for me and them. It took a few baby steps for me to leave total control in their hands, but once I did, I realized they had no problem taking the horse by the reins. That being said, I was encourage by my boss once again to take a few days off for some much needed rest and relaxation, and the few days I chose were during aerification of one of our courses. I was worried, but my boss reassured me that I have done a great job training and allowing my staff to grow that they should be able to handle the job. She also said that after this long, if they can't handle it without my constant oversight, either I wasn't doing my job or they weren't doing theirs. I know it's hard to get away, but how is Saturday and Sunday any different from a Monday or Thursday afternoon during the week? The turf doesn't know what day of the week is, but I can bet your wife and kids sure do.