We've all experienced work
environments where the only way to socialize with your boss, upper management,
and vendors is on the golf course. Deals and careers are made and broken on the
golf course and if you don't golf you're not one of the boys. Worry no more
according to a recent article “Cycling is
the new golf”. A non-completive environment where it’s all about
camaraderie. BULL!
On the golf course you
spend most of your time walking or driving along the course giving you plenty
of time to socialize. Since the actual golf part takes very little time, your biggest concern is making sure your
boss wins and by how much. In “Cycling is the new golf” there is a claim that
“Many believe cycling is better than golf for building lasting working
relationships, or landing a new job, because it is less competitive.” On the
other hand a contradictory statement is made that counters this; “. “A younger
rider can be cycling along with a chief executive and take their wind or help
them in some way and you get a reversal of the relationship.” So just like
letting your boss win in golf will help your career, letting your boss draft off
of you so he doesn't have to pedal as hard may benefit your career. Gee, sounds
just like letting your boss win at golf.
I'm glad that there are
some executives who have found a way to combine their love of cycling and turn
it into a networking opportunity. But the author is using some isolated cases
of a few cyclists who are interconnected through an existing business
relationship and a high profile charity ride. One commenter summed it up very
succinctly; “I would love nothing more than for cycling to be the new
"it" sport among executives. However, unlike golf, cycling requires a
person to be relatively fit just to be able to have conversations during a
typical training ride. That is, you have to work really hard just to be
mediocre. Additionally, as most executives are highly competitive, most
"group rides" among executives ultimately devolve into a
testosterone-fueled hammer-fest.”
If cycling is the new
golf, then I'm taking up Chess Boxing.
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