Keep pulling the thread on Nathan Smith.
Nathan Smith's leadership philosophy for managing the elite golfers on the U.S. Walker Cup team was to avoid micromanagement, stating "you just can't muzzle a racehorse" and encouraging them to "go be great."
As captain of the U.S. Walker Cup team, Nathan Smith operated under the belief that if the team lost, the responsibility would be entirely his, stating "Winning has a thousand fathers. Losing's an orphan."
Nathan Smith's primary piece of advice for leaders is to listen to and engage with their people, make them feel important, and put them in situations where they can succeed.
In selecting the final members for the U.S. Walker Cup team, Nathan Smith prioritized player personalities and current form over relying solely on world amateur golf rankings.
Nathan Smith believes a key part of team selection for the Walker Cup is considering pairings for the alternate shot format, as the Great Britain and Ireland team is traditionally very strong in that discipline.
Nathan Smith believes that a core principle applicable to both his golf and business careers is the importance of high-repetition practice and hard work.
To build trust with his insurance clients, Nathan Smith believes he must "double down" and demonstrate he is working "twice as hard" for them, partly to counteract perceptions related to his high-profile golf career.
Nathan Smith believes his failure to make the cut at the Masters after a double bogey on the 18th hole ultimately drove him to achieve greater success, such as winning four mid-amateur championships.