SmartBrief on Leadership - SmartBrief on Leadership Special Report

Professional golfers and their fans are converging on Pinehurst, N.C., this week for the U.S. Open men's golf championship. Golf may seem to be a low-tech game, but technology has been enhancing the game in everything from smart equipment to apps that help golfers improve their games and fans to keep up with the tournament.

Golf also holds many lessons in leadership, such as the resilience needed to face inevitable setbacks, the ability to focus on goals and objectives amidst distractions, making decisions with limited information and working with a team to achieve success.

In this special report, we focus on how leadership, like golf, requires a single-minded pursuit of excellence.

Author and podcast host David Novak shares five leadership lessons inspired by golf, including Jack Nicklaus' belief that preparation is critical, Larry Fitzgerald's dedication to continuous improvement, as well as the ability to build relationships and recover from setbacks. "Your ability to manage your mentality in situations when you need to bounce back is a huge piece of your success, both on the course and at work," Novak writes.

Golfer and writer Carly Frost highlights Suzann Pettersen's leadership in the Solheim Cup as an example of effective team captaincy in golf, as Pettersen displayed vital traits such as good organization, communication, decision-making and the ability to remain calm under pressure. "To earn the respect from your team players you need to be consistent in the way you lead your team," Frost writes.

A micromanaging boss may be giving you headaches, but they're also giving you opportunities to become a better employee and a better leader, leadership expert Marlene Chism writes. "I'm making a bold suggestion: Employees, initiate a difficult conversation with your boss!" Chism says, explaining five ways to do so -- and noting that Dr. Phil says, "You can't change what you don't acknowledge."