045 I Leading Through Growth: Building Culture, Sharing Knowledge, and Driving Success

In this episode of Leadership on the Links, Tyler sits down with Christopher Brown, CEO of Teed & Brown, a seasoned professional who transitioned from golf course management to the lawn care industry. Chris shares his journey, from working in the golf course industry to leading Teed & Brown, a rapidly growing lawn care company. With a focus on leadership, career growth, and industry evolution, Chris provides valuable insights into balancing business expansion with maintaining a strong company culture. You'll hear about Chris's leadership philosophies, the tools and strategies that drive Teed & Brown's success, and why he believes open knowledge sharing is crucial for industry growth. This conversation is packed with practical takeaways for professionals in golf, turf management, and business leadership. What You'll Learn in this Episode: Career Perspectives: Why Chris made the switch from golf course management to lawn care and how it reshaped his career, and how he found passion in his current role. He described being open to exploring alternative career paths, which offered a better work-life balance and earning potential in adjacent industries like lawn care. Scaling Company Growth with Team Growth: How Teed & Brown scaled from a small operation to a multi-location business with 130 employees. Employee Development: The role of structured career paths, performance tracking, and continuous learning in building a high-performing team. The Power of Collaboration: Why knowledge-sharing and mentorship are essential for long-term success in the turf industry. Soundbites: "You have to constantly reset your approach, reminding yourself that each customer is new to the conversation. What may be second nature to you is entirely fresh to them, so you need to present it as if it's their first time hearing it." (22:29) "Many companies struggle because they're missing one or two of these components. As businesses scale, Structure and Systems often become the biggest challenges. Early on, a simple structure works—two partners in a pickup truck, making daily plans on the fly. But with over 100 employees, well-defined systems and structures become essential for efficiency and growth." (27:16) Key Quotes: "I sleep at night knowing I've got a really good team working around me who helps me do that." "Our challenge is to deliver our best while bridging the gap between customer expectations and reality—helping them understand what's possible, what isn't, and why." "We aim to be the fine steakhouse of this environment—offering a premium experience that comes at a higher price but delivers exceptional quality. It's all about ensuring it aligns with what you're looking for." "We must excel not just in training but also in providing consistent feedback and measuring performance effectively." Links and Resources Mentioned: Teed and Brown: https://teedandbrown.com/ Christopher Brown's LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cbteedbrown/ Tyler Bloom's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-bloom-603b6243/