Seven book and podcast recommendations from our latest Accredited members

27 April 2023

As well as keeping on top of their personal development at work, the latest crop of GCMA Accredited members also ensure they keep their minds active away from the office, through books and podcasts, but what are they perusing?

We recently spoke to a number of the first intake of members to receive GCMA Accreditation to learn about their motivations for going through the process, what advice they would give to other members thinking about pursuing one of the four levels, and how they approach their team’s CPD, as well as their own.

We also asked: ‘Can you recommend any books or podcasts to other GCMA members?’ – here are the responses of seven different managers.

Aaron Harris Gillingham
Accredited Manager Level 1

I’m currently rereading the Rules of Golf! We get an awful lot of questions, so it’s always good to refresh yourself on the rules especially around the latest updates.

Adam Grint Gerrards Cross
Accredited Manager Level 3
Read Adam’s full interview

We all know the last three years have been extremely challenging for the for the world, but also in golf industry, and what came out of that for me was, the importance of mental health and wellbeing, and so one of the things I’m reading at the moment is The 4 Pillar Plan by Dr. Rangan Chatterjee.

It’s all about mindfulness and wellbeing, but not in the typical way of quick fix diets or exercises and so on. It’s an interesting read, because we have to really look after our mental health. He’s also got a podcast as well, and I’d certainly recommend that to anybody.

The other thing I’d recommend is the Institute of Leadership and Management podcast – Leadership at the Edge – which features experienced senior leaders and managers, and I have found this really useful as I’m driving into work every morning.

James Levick St Austell
Accredited Manager Level 2

I have really enjoyed listening to the Golf Club Talk UK podcast. Leighton and Eddie do a great job keeping the podcast engaging with interesting guests and topics within the industry. I also listen to the Diary of a CEO, as Stephen Bartlett has some great guests from a variety of industries, and I like to try to find any information I can use within our industry.

Mark Allden Druids Heath
Accredited Manager Level 3

I recommend reading biographies of people you admire and how they achieved success.

Melanie Drake Kings Hill GC
Accredited Manager Level 3
Read Melanie’s full interview

How to be a complete and utter failure in life, work and everything: 39 ½ steps to lasting underachievement by Steve McDermott. I’ve had this book for a long time and continue to flick through it from time to time.

Sleep: the Myths of 8 hours, the Power of Naps, and the New Plan to Recharge Your Body and Mind by Nick Littlehales, who is an elite sports sleep coach.

Employment law for private members golf clubs: keeping you out of the rough by Carolyne Wahlen.

Reece Mayberry Caldecott Hall
Accredited Manager Level 1

One book that comes to mind is How to have impossible conversations, by James Lindsay and Peter Boghossian. It’s a short book, and an easy read, but it is really good, and almost a bible for golf club managers.

It touches on soft skills, around conversations and arguments and not having to prove a point all the time, regardless of whether you’re right or wrong.

Even in the opening chapter I was laughing and thinking, ‘that’s me’. The idea about not having to prove a point really struck home, as it’s not a good way to build constructive relationships.

I quickly realised that, yes, you might be right on paper, but at the end of the day you’re not going to get anywhere with that approach.

It made me think about the people I’ve seen succeed who, perhaps aren’t that strong operationally, but have fantastic people skills, and it has really helped their personal progress. I don’t believe in just telling people exactly what they want to hear, but I know I can work on marrying my operational skills with personal relationships.

Susie Waldock Aberdovey
Accredited Manager Level 1
Read Susie’s full interview

Book-wise, I am currently reading Quiet by Susan Cain, which is all about the power of the introvert. I’m a natural introvert, so it’s about learning and understanding more about how that works in a leadership role.

I’m an avid listener of the High Performance podcast, and the Diary of the CEO.

Sometimes I’m drawn by a famous interviewee, but I enjoy the diverse mix of people who get interviewed.

I suppose because I come from an HR background, I’m very much about people and human behaviour, and that’s what I find most interesting. How people have got to where they’ve got to, what challenges they have faced and how they’ve overcome them – that’s what I find inspiring.

GCMA Accreditation

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You can access, update and complete your own personalised Accreditation form at any time, 365 days a year, before submitting your form during the submission window.

The next Accreditation submission window opens on May 1^st 2023 and will be open until 30^th June 2023.

If in the meantime you require any assistance or have any questions relating to GCMA Accreditation please do not hesitate to give us a call or email us at [email protected].

Access your GCMA Accreditation form here.

By GCMA Content Team

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John Steele

John Steele is a former professional athlete, sports coach, Olympic Leader and is the Executive Director of Sport at Loughborough University. He has been Chief Executive across a range of sectors. Drawing on leadership experience of nine different Olympic and Paralympic Games (including the amazing events at the Rio Games), John reflects on the lessons from this unique period in British sport and relays his fascinating views on creating high performing teams.

Indeed, inspired from PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games, by the most successful performance ever for Team GB, he has a whole host of new business and leadership insights into how this was brilliant performance was achieved and how it can translate back into your organisation.

John moved into the corporate world, before he enjoyed an outstanding career as a professional rugby player achieving international honours. After his playing career, he turned his hand to coaching and achieved the highest accolade for a British club coach by winning the European Cup with Northampton Saints. He then became Executive Director on the Saints Board during a period of unprecedented growth, and served on the England Rugby Board during the successful world cup campaign of 2003. It was no surprise that John’s talents were called upon to drive through a change and modernisation programme as CEO of the Rugby Football Union – a challenge that became controversial and ended in his departure from the post after only a year, but with his dignity and professional pride intact.

Headhunted by UK Sport, John took up post as CEO the day before London won the 2012 Olympic bid – and this promising start was sustained as he embarked on developing the UK’s high performance sport system, which he led for a six-year period of unprecedented success through the Beijing and London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Post-London 2012, with the Olympic legacy in place and an obligation to continue inspiring a generation, John took up his post as Group Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust. He has also succeeded Steve Cram as Chairman of the English Institute of Sport, an organisation described as ‘the team behind the team’, which delivers a range of performance impacting solutions to over 40 Olympic and Paralympic sports and some non-Olympic sports.

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Dr Jo Salter MBE

Dr Jo Salter MBE is famed for becoming the first female fast jet pilot, having flown the Panavia Tornado ground attack aircraft during her services in the Royal Air Force. Joining the RAF aged 18, Jo has since taken Air Cadets into the skies as part of Air Experience Flights, become the Director of Global Transformative Leadership for PWC, and most recently become a Global Advisory of GenAI for PwC.

Jo has piloted flights in the Air Cadets Air Experience Flights and inspired countless budding armed service members to pioneer a male-dominated sector, having been the leader of an all-male squadron. Since leaving the military behind, Jo has established a strong business career working in roles such as Head of Technical Services for NetConnect, European Operations Manager for Automated Power Exchange and Managing Director of Saltin Ltd.

Having developed first-class expertise in leadership, analytical thinking and performing under pressure, Jo is now a highly sought-after public speaker to share stories from her time in the skies.

Jo is a passionate Trustee of The Royal Air Force Club and an Ambassador of the Global Angels charity, an organisation that gives communities around the world access to clean water, education, healthcare and encourages female and youth empowerment. Jo has also authored two books, titled Energy: 52 Ways to Fire Up Your Life and Become an Energy Angel and Energize: Spring Clean Your Mind and Body to Get Your Bounce Back Today and Every Day.

In recognition of her achievements throughout her career, Jo has also been named as one of the 50 Most Inspiring Women in the World by Harpers & Queen. She is now working as the Director of Global Transformation Leadership at PWC, after working in other roles such as Director of Risk Technology Strategy, Director Chief of Staff to Head of Technology & Investments and the Director of People & Organisations.

In 2022, Jo was invited personally by Tom Cruise to attend the premiere of Top Gun: Maverick. Most recently, Jo received an honorary doctorate of Arts from Bournemouth University.