003 | How To Create A Positive Team Culture From The Top Down with Brian Laurent

After a year on the road visiting top golf courses around the country, Brian Laurent has learned a thing or two about what makes a great leader on the green–and his findings might surprise you. Brian is the founder and CEO of Propel Solutions and wears many hats including executive director, marketing director, communication specialist, event coordinator, and more. He enjoys developing and implementing creative strategies utilizing new technology. Brian earned a degree in Communication from The Ohio State University where he was a walk-on member of the men's golf team. He lives just outside Columbus, Ohio, and still enjoys playing golf and spending time with his wife, two sons, and two step-children. Top 2 Qualities of a Great Leader After visiting courses around the country and attending multiple tournaments, Brian noticed a few stand-out qualities that all the best leaders have in common. The first is composure. Even in high-stress environments, the best leaders stay calm–especially in front of their team. They create a positive culture at the course from the top down. When challenges come up, they take them in stride. The second quality is that great leaders don't engage in comparison. They don't complain or compare their situation to others because they know every course is different. If you want to be a better leader, stay focused on your team and your course–remember the grass is always greener. The Power of Networking Brian's top advice for anyone looking to enter the golf industry (or grow your career) is to build your network. Stay in touch with people you went to school with, volunteer, intern, and travel whenever you get the opportunity. The more people you meet, the more you'll learn and the better off you'll be. Enjoy this episode with Brian Laurent… Quotes "Networking is vital to one's success in this industry." "Having that composure when you're interacting with your team and being able to calmly talk to them about what's going on and what needs to be done, all that kind of stuff…it pays dividends because you're not imposing unneeded stress on your team." "People tend to lose sight of that, that it's a game and it's meant to be fun." "I think the most important thing in this industry is networking." "I've never had a bad day on a golf course when I'm with good people." Links mentioned in this episode: Superintendent Network: https://www.superintendentnetwork.com/ Follow the Superintendent Network on X: https://twitter.com/TheGCSNetwork?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor Follow the Superintendent Network on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegcsnetwork Connect with Brian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-laurent-aba3744/