Enabling transparent leadership: a small business manager's perspective

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to discuss the role of transparent leadership in a small family owned hotel, the Wingate Inn, Garden City, New York. The goal is to demonstrate that one can create a more productive, open work place and ultimately more satisfied, loyal guests. The article is written to provide the reader with an every day approach to management from the small business perspective. It is intended to remind the reader that straightforward dealings and common sense can usually provide the best solutions in a constantly changing and challenge filled environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The article describes the common sense approach that the author as general manager employs in the development of a transparent workplace. A short series of fundamental management philosophies that find their root in transparency are used to describe his approach to transparent leadership and the resulting benefits. It is further explained through the retelling of an actual situation that developed within the hotel's housekeeping management team, and how he was able to avoid a potentially explosive and costly situation through a direct and open application of these core management disciplines.

Findings

The author contends that the promotion of transparent management principles to his associates will result in their exercise of these same principles in their day‐to‐day management of the hotel, their relation with hotel guests, and one another.

Originality/value

The article offers insights into the application of transparency to management of a hotel and achieving excellent results.

Citation

Salvatico, R. (2006), "Enabling transparent leadership: a small business manager's perspective", Journal of Management Development, Vol. 25 No. 10, pp. 1018-1020. https://doi.org/10.1108/02621710610708658