There has been so much media attention around Tiger coming back to professional golf to play in the Master’s this week. Most of the attention is on whether or not his wife will be there, how Tiger will handle the pressure of media crush, or what the reaction from the fans will be like… What I have found most interesting though was a small article from Comcast Sports, Finding the 2 Players in Tiger’s group at Augusta that delved into those other professional golfers who must now play side-by-side with Tiger in his first tournament since his scandal. From the article:
How will they decide who plays with Woods?
“With great care,” said Colin Montgomerie, who is not eligible for the Masters this year. “You’d almost have to ask for volunteers. There’s a number of players that will be looking at the draw sheet – I believe it comes out on Tuesday afternoon – and will be delighted if they are not playing with Tiger on this occasion.”
So who gets him? Perhaps the better question is who wants him?
“I would say it would be a tough pairing, to tell you the truth,” said 49-year-old Kenny Perry, who lost in a playoff last year. “I’m old enough to maybe handle that. Maybe you need some hillbilly like me to do that. But it will be different, because I’m sure the players will be focused on Augusta, yet focused on what’s going on with him and paying attention to what he’s doing out there.”
This begs an interesting question: Would You Want to Work side-by-side with a Tiger Woods? Not the Tiger Woods you loved 6 months ago and would have paid big to play a round of golf with, but the Tiger Woods right now in all of this glory misery. I personally know guys who have waited hours standing around a golf green at a tournament just to get a chance to see Tiger take a putt. But now they would be ridiculed to do the same thing. Did Tiger get worse at golf? Did grown men really view Tiger as their hero?
I personally like American sports heroes best when they are down – after testing positive for drugs, on the way to jail after being arrested for hitting their spouse, after being pulled over with 400 pounds of pot in the trunk of their car. This is when we really get to see our heroes in real life – the ESPN interview and Barbara Walters specials don’t tell us anything we didn’t know – I want to know the athlete when they’re face down on the hood of the car getting cuffed, or ducking to miss getting hit by his wife swinging a 7-iron at his head. That’s real life – and that’s the Tiger I want to know.
And what about in your work environment? It’s happened – Ted in Accounting has an affair with Mary in Marketing, and can you believe it – Ted’s wife was pregnant at the time, and Mary’s son is disabled – and how could they do this!?!? Organizationally, Ted is a superstar and Mary has 2-times next level potential and pedigree – they’re in their own right, bonafide company rock stars. Two consenting adults, didn’t work in the same department, wasn’t a supervisory relationship, really had nothing to do with business – except it has everything to do with business now – because everyone knows and no one wants to work or interact with either of them.
So, what’s a HR pro to do? Unfortunately, it’s sticky, but it’s also too common in our organizations. If it’s not infidelity, it’s DUI’s, or bankruptcy, or other domestic issues, and HR is the one that has to get everyone to play well with each other the day after. These are the challenging moments that will test your resolve and many times your character and values as a HR Pro. There is no perfect answer on how to handle these issues because each one is issue specific, organizational specific and talent specific (don’t kid yourself – it’s much harder to cut a rock star than a bottom-feeder – and I’ll bet if you can say you would treat everyone the same – you haven’t faced this type of issue yet – because Executives don’t view all your employees the same!).
Regardless of how you solve this issue – promise me one thing – don’t take the easy way out and hand them the EAP card! Your organization expects more than that.
Good post Tim. The Tiger Woods issue is on the tip of everyones tongue right now. You really just want to like him again, at least that’s the sense I get from other conversations. I know I do. Comparing to a work setting is interesting. If it’s an employee in the company, I’m sure most would put their heads down and do their jobs right? If it’s someone in your department, a close friend, do they get a free pass? You would think so, but I guarantee it would create problems as you mentioned. What about if the CEO of your company or your boss was the one creating the issue? What then? Look for a new job? Not sure you would want to stay on board at that point.
Interesting angle, Tim…
I’d work with a Tiger situation in the workplace, but let’s face it – it’s easier to work with that person if they’re upfront about how they’ve screwed up and make you want to help them recover on the job. Not sure how that manifests itself in a workplace, but that’s how I’d feel… Becoming humble goes a long way to making you want to work with them and help them…
As for rockstars getting more chances, you’re absolutely right – here’s a clip from a column I penned over at Workforce….
“The truth: Everyone’s equal until we see business results, then decisions get made and conflicts are resolved with an eye toward who produces. The good news is that producing results is a process that is free of race, gender or national origin bias. The bad news is that it feels unfair that someone with a drinking problem gets three strikes instead of being thrown out at two, all because he was the top-performing salesperson nationally. Welcome to the show, kid, where the curveballs curve and all the hotels have room service.”
Thanks for the Tiger post!
Tim – I think you were on to something when you said “But now they would be ridiculed to do the same thing.” I don’t think anyone has a problem working with Tiger Woods for what he did; I think golfers may have a problem working with him for fear of what others might say of them working with him (more specifically, fans).
Here’s the thing – I don’t believe for a second that this was some huge secret and nobody knew about it. People talk. People find out. You didn’t see any golfer standing up prior to Thanksgiving saying “No, no – I have a moral issue with golfing with Tiger Woods.” It’s now, when everyone is judging him, that people are taking issue with it. If they played golf with him before, they should play golf with him now. Besides – this is business for them – treat it as such.
Same goes for “Office Tiger Woods.” Don’t be a punk and shun someone for being the exact same person they’ve always been.
(And for the record: soooo not a Tiger fan.)
“In the show, everyone can hit heat”
Nice Bull Durham reference, KD.
Tiger has and will always have what I call “Yankee Syndrome”. People hate them both because they always win. As soon as a winner gets tarnished, people see an opening and dig in. Bottom line, winners keep winning regardless of their dirty laundry.
I recently heard about a sales team that had a couple of top producers fired because of some expense account transgressions. Shame on them, yes, but it doesn’t change the fact that these people will land somewhere else and continue their winning ways.
If you’re team doesn’t have a “Tiger” or a “Yankee” on it, you’ve simply got an average squad.
Keep him in the game. While a star, Tiger was not involved with anyone from the PGA organization, there is not an existing contract with him and the PGA on any of his actions related to his infidelity. While he is an ass morally, he is not an ass in the pga. Actually he is the star they want him to be.
I would work with him but I’d be sure that I kept my wife away!
@BenjaminMcCall
http://ReThinkHR.org
Interesting question Tim – “Would you want to work side-by-side with a Tiger Woods?” Well, I’m sure some of us are and don’t know. Good people make a good company but how do you screen for bad morals and values?
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