After writing about Cap'n, I couldn't help but think of some the other great people I have had the pleasure of working for.
My first job was at a skating rink. That would be a roller skating rink... I was a speed skater (short track) and was there pretty much constantly, so it was a great fit. I worked in the skate room (repair and rental) as well as working as a floor guard (I was actually a DJ at the next skating rink I worked at).
The owner was a guy named Nicky... specifically, Big Nicky (as opposed to his son Little Nicky). We just referred to him as 'Big'... and 'Little'. Nicky was a second generation American. His parents (and his wife's) had come to America from Greece with little that they weren't wearing. He hand his wife had been Pairs Champions, and he turned that into a position of rink manager... then finally owner. In fact, he bought several rinks and successfully ran all of them.
The rink I worked at was the main one... it was where he was focused, and much of the time I worked there, it was the only one. And the over-simplify a point, there was NO job in that rink that Big did not do... And there were jobs that he would only accept volunteers for... those jobs involved toilets.
There was a specific job that had to be done twice a year according to Big. It was the most disgusting thing I've ever done. We pulled the toilets off of the floor and cleaned then inside and out... and then put them back. There was no law. There was no health regulation. There was something higher... Big's Standard. He was not going to let the bathrooms smell, and that was what he thought it took.
So, twice a year on a Saturday morning, we would gather. Nick would pull the toilets out into the "yard" behind the rink and we would get to cleaning. Nick would offer cigars to anyone that wanted one (we were teenagers... it probably wasn't legal) because they covered the smell. After about 3 hours, they were clean as new, and back in the bathrooms.
The guys that did this (only guys volunteered when I was there) were a team. But more... we had tremendous respect for Big. He didn't tell us what to do and then hide in the office... he was right there. He was at least as dirty as the rest of us. And after doing that job... or even hearing about it from somoene that did it, there were NO complaints about mopping up barf or any of the other wonderful tasks that could pop up.
Big was a leader. He didn't expect others to do what he didn't do himself. He didn't demand. He offered. And he was given. We gave him our loyalty. We gave him our service. He gave us chances... he let us make mistakes. He gave trust...
I learned a lot of valuable management lessons from Big. I learned that I could never demand respect, loyalty or commitment. But, I could earn them... And there are few days that pass when I don't wonder what Big Nicky would do.
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I'd love to hear from you...
Good story. I have memories of my first jobs and think of the people that I respected and those that we did not, Big sounds like a great guy that got respect with out demanding it.
Lane:
I always enjoy your posts, but I can't quite agree with the philosophy that Big took. I don't believe that a leader should be out doing the tasks that workers are being paid to do. It's the leaders job to think and not be cleaning toilets. That's all great and happy-feely, but I view it as a major problem with current society. Too many leaders are trying to get down on their hands and knees with the workers when they need to have their feet propped on the desk - thinking and planning.
Leadership leads and tells workers what to do. They are owed immediate respect due to their rank and pecking order in the organization. If a worker can't give immediate respect - the worker should quit. If they can't learn to orient to authority...authority will orient them to it. Just give it a littlle time...
Their company. Their rules. If a person doesn't like the rules they need to go elsewhere. In a proper chain of command, respect is demanded and enforced. A leader of an organization doesn't have to earn a darn thing from labor - he just has to pay them.
Jessica - I had to jump in and mention something... By doing this job, twice a year, he cemented respect from the crew. And you can't buy respect... especially for $2/hour. And I agree that we face a problem with leadership today... things like a Treasury Secretary that doesn't pay his taxes... but demands that we do. Nick on the other hand would say "There will be no earmarks. I don't ask for them and neither will you". (you did know that there are actually some earmarks in the omnibus spending bill from BO himslef, right?)
Washington led from the front. There were people that were amazed that he was never killed. He rode back and forth in front of the troops urging them on... And leading from behind just doesn't seem right, does it...
Terry - Big was a heck of a guy... probably still is.
I'd like to suggest a bit different approach than Jessica's.
My former careeer was in education. When I started with the board where I spent more than 30 years of my career, we had a "boss" (director) who was not the norm. He pushed his desk out of his plush office and put it out in the hallway where he could be in contact with people. He insisted on answering his phone by himself if he was there, not having people go through a secretary to get to him. When I was at one of his training sessions for new teachers, he said, "I hope everyone has a pen and paper ... Here is my home phone number. If you have a great day ... let me know. If you have an awful day, call me and we will work things out."
This had nothing to do with rules, and what does he have? ... my deepest respect.
Lane: Yes, I am very much aware of the earmarks and I think we've gotten exactly the type of leadership this country wanted. Our elected officials are nothing more than a reflection of who and what we are.
The higher ranking an officer is, the further from the front he should be. Privates are easily replaced, but Generals are not. I realize that will not be popular, but its the proper order of things. Of course the idiots at the Pentagon don't know how to wage a war and save the lives of good American soldiers. There is only one way to wage a war: You flatten the enemy until there is nothing left and then you get a group from the UN to walk through the battlefield and see what you've done. After they file their reports back to their country, nobody is going to mess with you. That's how you win a war and have peace. Everything else is bleeding-heart sentimentality that creates wars and causes young men and women to die serving this country.
I stand by my stance: Leadership doesn't have to earn respect of the people they employ, they employee has to earn the respect of the leader/owner. We have our norms and standards a bit mixed up and the tail shouldn't wag the dog.
EDIT: Washington was not leading professional soldiers and was leading untrained men, farmers, boys, and half the time they never had proper weapons. He was not only their General, but their father. Those guys didn't have food. Clothing. That's a bit different and he held that "army" together as best as he could.
P.S.
And Bob, don't go e-mailing me telling me you don't agree. You must not know me. I don't give a darn if you agree with me or not and if I want your opinion e-mailed to me - I'll ask for it.
Great one Lane. Is Big still around? If so have you ever told him about the impact he has had on your life?
Bob - There is a limit...
Jessica - I wouldn't expect you to radically alter your position, as it is a strong one... But, I would counter that when we are leading our peers, and even employees, we are leading people that aren't perfect... they need to be built up. And Washington took untrained men and made something greater. Even if he'd had "real" soldiers, he would have done the same thing. He would have been able to take them to a higher level as well.
Ken - I don't know if he is now, but a few years ago I did get to tell him that he was one of the people that I looked up to the most. I don't think he could ever really get how important that has been.