Leading by Example
“Do as I say, not as I do,” just isn’t part of a true leader’s vocabulary. Here are some characteristics of dive store owners and managers who lead by example:
- Your personal dive gear reflects what you’d want both your staff and customers to own and use.
- Your staff never has to explain to customers why it’s okay for you to make a solo deep air dive to 200 feet, but not for them.
- You take your turn teaching classes at all levels and are a regular fixture at local dive sites — not someone who limits their diving to warm-water vacations.
As he has for most of the past 30 years, “The” Dive Shop owner John Wall spends every Saturday on the sales floor with the rest of his staff. I frequently stop by just to watch John work.
I remember one Saturday in particular. The store was busy; everyone had their hands full with customers. I’d engaged a customer in conversation, as none of the regular staff was available to help him. As soon as I saw that John was free, I steered the customer in John’s direction.
By this time, the rest of the sales staff was done waiting on clients and the only customer remaining was the one John was working with. What struck me was that every single salesperson turned their attention to John, eager to see what he was going to say and how he was going to say it.
Now that’s leadership.
Leading by Example at the Highest Levels
“Too often we see Do as I say and not as I do in leadership instruction. When is the last time you saw an instructor jump in the water with his Divemaster students and do the swim requirements instead of standing by the side of the pool and counting laps?
“During the SDI Instructor Trainer program we require that everyone is in the pool and doing all the skills. This includes me. It is our policy that if any SDI training department staff asks anyone to do a skill, they will demonstrate or do it right along side of the student.
“Besides leading by example, it is a great way to ensure that instructors remain in shape and proficient in the water.”
Brian Carney
President
International Training
TDS, SDI and ERDI
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