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Jerry Sikes,
RRP / CHA, is President of Professional Resort Operators, Inc., Scottsdale, Arizona. He has 35 years in the Hospitality
Industry / 25 years in Timesharing, and is the current Co-Chairman of ARDA Arizona as well as Chairman of the Arizona
Timeshare Management Association. Jerry is a frequent guest speaker regionally and nationally on all aspects of
Timeshare Management and a frequent contributor of articles for industry publications. Email: boyjerry@cox.net
Phone 480-947-3300 Fax 480-947-6853
| With regard to Offering Visible Support |
--by Jerry Sikes, RRP - CHA
"When we are confident, all we need is a little support."
- Andre' Laurendeau -
Managers and leaders who understand the sharing of power concept know that they must offer support in two ways.
They must (1) draw attention to themselves through a constant and apparent display of a willingness to share the
power which they have gained and, (2) do everything possible to ensure that the members of their staff are highly
visible and that they, individually and as a group get noticed and recognized.
Managers are generally proficient at getting the job done, otherwise they may never have achieved that status.
If we are content to remain managers we will concentrate on those things which will assist us in maintaining that
status. If we aspire to reach beyond, to achieve true professionalism and maybe leadership, we must find ways to
shine the spotlight on the achievement of others rather than on our own accomplishments.
Major League Baseball shines the spotlight on it's best pitchers with what's known as the Cy Young Award. This
award generally goes to the pitcher who was on the mound most often when a win was posted to the record.
I often picture this Cy Young Award winning pitcher in a situation where its the bottom of the 9th, the bases are
full, the game is tied and one of the best hitters in baseball is at the plate. This pitcher goes into his stretch,
he looks to first base to hold the runner, he looks to third base to hold that runner, then he turns to make the
pitch. He suddenly realizes that in his look to first he did not see his First Baseman, in his look to third, he
did not see his Third Baseman and now that he is looking to home, he sees no Catcher. He is in the center of the
spotlight, all the TV cameras are on him, as is every eye from the stands. A hush falls over the ballpark, anticipation
is at its peak and everyone is on the edge of their seats....... a great moan is heard as he calls time out!
Without the visible support of his teammates he does not dare to commit himself to make the throw. He understands
that even if he throws his best pitch, the ball will surely end up at the backstop and the winning run will score
from third, for the other team.
Visibility is also enhanced when leaders keep their subordinates in contact with people outside their immediate
sphere. For example -- by placing people on Committees or Task Forces whose members come from across the organization
or by encouraging active participation in Professional and Civic Groups. Making connections and building strong
relationships become possible only when given the opportunity to do so by someone who is willing to use their influence,
their power or position to facilitate such growth.
The fact remains that in order to do a job, any job, one must have influence on the job. That influence has four
components:
- [1] The influence of Competence - Which has to be acquired. It evokes
CONFIDENCE.
[2] The influence of Authority - Which has to be delegated. It evokes
DEFERENCE.
[3] The influence of Personality - Which has to be developed. It evokes
RAPPORT.
[4] The influence of Character - Which has to be cultivated. It evokes
RESPECT.
Final Thoughts
If you are the manager, you have the influence, you are the holder of the candle. One candle, no matter how bright,
can only hold back a certain amount of darkness.
Through the simple act of using your candle's flame to light another candle, you can insure that when an ill wind
blows, not all the light will be extinguished. As a leader you are the custodian of the single candle. Within that
candle is the power to light the way.
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