Personal appearance matters because without a consistent solid appearance you will not develop pride in who you are and what you do; and, accordingly, you will not earn the respect your God-given talents deserve. In good economic times this would be a shame. In bad economic times this is tantamount to working with one hand tied behind your back. As a golf course superintendent, the list of where your personal appearance matters is brief but vital:

Nothing delivers the message more directly that you have defaulted into a laissez-faire world than a deteriorating overweight body…

1. Your Physical Fitness: You owe it to yourself and your family to strive to be physically fit throughout your life because you will live longer; enjoy your career and life more; sustain your self-image more effectively; be a better model to your children; and continue to command the respect of those you interact with throughout your work environment. Nothing delivers the message more directly to those who you surround yourself with in life (including your employer) that you have defaulted into the laissez-faire world where the concept of excellence no longer exists than a deteriorating overweight body.

2. Your Personal Dress Code: As a general rule, superintendents spend far too little for their personal clothing and as a result often come up short appearance-wise when playing golf, or attending employer-based social and business functions – where a sport jacket and slacks are the general dress code of the day for a golf course superintendent. Nothing wrong with wearing a sport jacket and slacks most of the time, but this should not be the top of your personal dress code line.

Golf professionals learned the value of a quality dress code a long time ago…

How often do we see a superintendent wearing a good suit? Rarely. I am not suggesting that suits become the prevailing dress code; rather, that every man and woman superintendent should own and be seen at appropriate times by his/her constituents wearing a well-tailored business suit. If you want to be perceived as a professional person, dress like one. Golf professionals learned this lesson a long time ago. Spending to upgrade your clothing line is a justifiable expenditure and is money well used – even in a bad economy.

Keeping a job today is everything about commanding respect. Don’t give it away through sloppy personal and dress habits.