Peter Davies is general manager of theWianno Club in Osterville, MA.
Q: You came out of the music business in your native England where, among other jobs, you once managed punk rocker Iggy Pop. How did that prepare you for the roles you’ve had in the club industry?
A: The music business and private club world both have high levels of customer/owner service expectations that must be personal, confidential, respectful, detail oriented, and reliable. Rock stars may be insistent about the color combination of the M&M’s in their dressing rooms; club members should expect to be greeted warmly by name and, without asking, served a martini with olives, not a twist. I developed my interpersonal and servant-leadership skills in the music industry, something that serves my work in a private club very well.
Q: What is the one characteristic of Wianno Club that distinguishes it from others?
A: The Wianno Club is a special place where cherished memories and lifelong friendships are created for generation after generation. A late September wedding at the club was a great example. The bride has spent every summer here since she was born. When she entered the ballroom for the first time as a married woman, I’m sure she remembered all the happy times spent with her friends and family in the same room over the years at bingo nights, teen dances, and Independence Day celebrations. The adults she knew as a child and her childhood friends, now adults, too, were there to celebrate her marriage with her.
Q: What is one mistake you’ve made in your career that you look back on now and consider a valuable learning experience?
A: I’ve certainly had my share of difficult moments, and there isn’t one that I haven’t learned something from. But my most valuable learning experience can be described by one word: toleration. Throughout my career, I’ve always wanted to see the good in people and encourage them by catching them doing the right things. At first I had challenges getting it right because I was afraid of confrontation. I tolerated actions and behaviors that deserved a different response. Circumstances or behaviors went unaddressed until frustration peaked beyond the level of toleration, leading to unpleasant and unsatisfactory outcomes. I’ve gotten better after I talked about my challenge with management consultant Ken Blanchard. He said: “Keep your focus on catching people doing the right things, but keep that meaningful by always providing honest, fair, and timely feedback. Absolutely lead with love, but keep in mind that sometimes you must lead with tough love. When people know you speak the truth, even when it’s a difficult truth, they will come to trust you.” That was great advice.
Q: Of what do you wish most club members had a greater appreciation?
A: That it’s really hard to provide a nice dining experience when everyone sits down for dinner at 7 p.m.
Profiles in Excellence is sponsored by Global Golf Advisors, a CMAA Silver Alliance Partner. Global Golf Advisors is the golf and club industry’s leading authority on course ownership and management best practices, club lifestyle enhancement and member facilitation. For more information, visit globalgolfadvisors.com or call (888) 432-9494.
This "Profile in Excellence" article was published in the Club Management Nov/Dec 2012 issue [page 9]
This "Profile in Excellence" article was published in the Club Management Nov/Dec 2012 issue [page 9]
