The Scheffler Paradox

Last Sunday, I returned home from attending American Association for Physician Leadership? Annual Leadership Conference in time to watch the final holes of the 2024 Masters Golf Tournament. I learned so many things while in #Nashville, but I did not imagine that there were a few more lessons to be learned that weekend. And, perhaps, fitting that those would come Sunday evening while watching Scottie Scheffler win his second green jacket.

Whether he did this with intentionality, or it is just his nature, Scottie put on a display of leadership that few can match, much less replicate. Of the 4 Major golf tournaments held each season, some would say that the Masters is the most prestigious (unless, of course, you are such a purist and a pond hopper that the Open is the "granddaddy of them all," as Keith Jackson would say).

What Scottie did throughout the 4 day event embodied several lessons of leadership as evidenced by his words in the post match interview and more so by his deeds on the walk to the clubhouse to submit his final score.

During the interview, Scottie shared the following;

"You kept your head down all day, basically, but at any point did you allow yourself to enjoy the lead you had?" "Enjoy the lead? No.....[and] did not ever let myself get attached to the lead. I just tried to keep pushing."

When asked about his identity, "...I love winning. I hate losing. I really do. And when you're here in the biggest moments, when I'm sitting there with the lead on Sunday, I really, really want to win badly. And my buddies told me this morning, my victory was secure on the cross....and it doesn't matter if I win this tournament or lose this tournament. My identity is secure for forever."

On where to find contentment, "...all I can think about right now is getting home. I'm not thinking about the tournament. I'm not thinking about the green jacket. I'm trying to answer your questions and I'm trying to get home. I wish -- I wish I could soak this in a little bit more. Maybe I will tonight when I get home. But at the end of the day, I think that's what the human heart does. You always want more, and I think you have to fight those things and focus on what's good."

When asked about priorities, "Your rivals will be hoping that at some point you're going to take your eye off the ball" "My priorities will change here very soon. My [soon to be born] son or daughter will now be the main priority, along with my wife, so golf will now be probably fourth in line. But I still love competing. I don't plan on taking my eye off the ball anytime soon, that's for sure."

On keeping his head down (again), "Yeah, I tried not to let my emotions get the best of me this time. I kept my head down. I don't think I even took my hat off and waved to the crowd walking up 18. I did my best to stay in the moment, and I wanted to finish off the tournament in the right way."

On this last comment, Scottie was downright apologetic to crowd if you watched the interview and picked up on his nonverbal cues.

And, to cap it off (literally), on the walk up to the clubhouse not only did he choose not to walk alone, but when he waved up his caddie, he pushed him in front of him. As if to signal that the victory was as much the caddie's as much as his own. To give credit. To put others in front.

Scottie demonstrated leadership in the following ways;

He modeled desired behaviors such as keeping his head down (and apologizing to his fans for it!), by avoiding attachment to being in the lead, by feeling secure in his identity, by focusing on what's good, by knowing his priorities, and trying his best to go about all of this in the right way.

In Jim Collins' classic book, Good to Great, the author describes the Stockdale paradox of leadership. Admiral James Stockdale, a former vice presidential candidate, naval officer, and Vietnam prisoner of war said, "You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end, which you can never afford to lose, with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be."

Maybe Jim could some day add a chapter about a twist on Stockdale's paradox, which we might call the Scheffler's paradox, "When leading and while confronting your reality, keep your faith to prevail (in the end) with what matters most, which may not be winning after all. And, maybe, if by skill and grace, you win anyway."

It seems to me that Scottie Scheffler taught all of us some lessons last Sunday night. He had incredible self awareness. He had phenomenal situational awareness. He was relentless and disciplined on the outside, but internally he was a magnificent man of faith with which he combined his inner strength, the power of his convictions, his moral compass, and his priorities. And walked off against the sunset with grace and humility.

I looked up the meaning of humble and found many different ways to define it, but the best thing that I found is that the root of the word is traced back to ancient Greece. And the root of the Greek meaning is humi which means "on the ground."

Award-winning Professor of Healthcare Administration at Trinity University, Amer Kaissi, Ph.D. , describes in his book Humbitious – The Power Of Low Ego, High Drive Leadership, that the best leaders often do not see themselves as above anyone. That they combine humility with ambition. (and, maybe given the word origin humi it explains with Dr. Kaissi is passionate about #hummus!!)

If leadership requires these types of things, Scottie earned every bit of being atop the Leader Board on Sunday while at the same time having his feet clearly on the ground.