Cognitive flexibility is one of the most underrated qualities in both golf and leadership. It’s the ability to shift your thinking, to adapt to new challenges, and to approach problems from multiple angles. I’ve learned that the more flexible your thinking, the more successful you’ll be—whether you’re standing on the golf course or leading a team.
In their 2010 study, Leung and Chiu demonstrated that engaging with foreign cultures enhances cognitive flexibility and creative thinking. This is something I’ve experienced time and again through golf. Each new course I play challenges me to adapt. Whether it’s the course layout, the weather, or the condition of the greens, I’m constantly adjusting my game. And it’s through this process that I’ve developed greater mental agility.
This cognitive flexibility doesn’t stay on the course—it carries over into my leadership at *In The Swing Leadership*. In today’s fast-paced business world, the ability to adapt to new information, changing circumstances, and different perspectives is more important than ever.
Golf is a perfect training ground for developing this flexibility. It teaches you to think creatively, to adapt quickly, and to remain calm under pressure. And in leadership, just like in golf, those are the qualities that separate good performers from great ones.
