MORE THAN GRASS WITH ALPHA JONES

By Alpha Jones , CSFM

With the launch of the new SFMA mentorship program , helping someone find their way in the green industry , learn something new about themselves or increase their network have been trending topics during the first quarter of 2024 . The program has several participants in the early going and more are welcome .

Mentoring and coaching can overlap . Mike Tomlin , head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers ( of whom I am a longtime fan of both him and the team ), is known for combining the two roles . I do not know Coach T personally — and my admiration of him is from afar — but my respect lies within his publicized intention to mentor and coach his players not just in the game of football , but as men in the game of life .

I recently had the opportunity to mentor someone who is not part of the green industry , but who was looking for help understanding how to confront the challenges of life . In our conversation , the mentee described an upcoming challenge which involved an admissions test score that they had hopes of successfully completing .

Without realizing it , this person stated several times the minimum score necessary to “ pass the test ,” as though reaching the minimum was their goal . They did not possess foresight nor understand the benefit of striving for more . As our conversation progressed , it became clear that this person ’ s current environment offered no encouragement or motivation to pursue more than just getting by . They frequently asked why they are stuck where they are ; answer , because the minimum to get by was their standard .

Coach Tomlin is famous for offering quotes , often called “ Tomlinisms ,” to get the message across to his players and coaching staff . I offered one of his most famous quotes to my mentee — “ The standard is the standard .”

Tomlin uses this phrase to create a mindset that , regardless of circumstances , everyone is to meet or exceed the high expectation of excellence . Many players , when leaving the Steelers organization , have been quoted as saying that Tomlin ’ s approach — and that phrase in particular — raised their work ethic and the standards they set for themselves .

Through further discussion with my mentee , the details of the scoring system showed that the organization recognizes a higher score as a greater success ; thus , a higher score presents more opportunity within the organization . So , we agreed that the standard is the standard ; and their new standard would be earning a score significantly greater than the minimum passing score — yet still achievable . Their standard is now the standard of meeting or exceeding their own expectation of excellence rather than the minimum score communicated by the organization . This would affirm for them that they are capable of more than just enough to get by .

Mike Tomlin ’ s philosophy works for the individual or for the entire team because it sets an expectation where the challenge is to meet or exceed it . Is there an expectation in your workplace for the quality of work produced , the amount of effort or the commitment to getting things done ? Whether you are the leader of your department , a member of the crew or even working your first internship , the quality of the work you produce and accept from others on your team is your standard . Can you or someone articulate that expectation to your team ? Does the work the team produces match the quality and vision of what is expected ?

Author Napoleon Hill is credited with stating , “ Whatever my mind can conceive and believe , it can achieve .” The standard is not set by when we show up or how hard we work ; it starts with our mindset . Can we conceive , form or devise a plan that produces a desired goal ? If we believe in it and accept it as true , then we can achieve it .

The standard we set for ourselves will show in the work we produce , our work ethic , our commitment to success and how we carry ourselves . It is reflected to others , and how we are perceived factors into our standard and how it is received . So , it is important to say what the standard is , act on that standard and believe in the standard ; because the standard is the standard . SFM

Alpha Jones , CSFM , is director of field operations for the Fayetteville Woodpeckers , MiLB affiliate of the Houston Astros . He serves on the SFMA Board of Directors as Secretary-Treasurer .

For more information about the SFMA mentorship program , visit https :// www . surveymonkey . com / r / PWBXF5C sportsfieldmanagementonline . com April 2024 | SportsField Management

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