kids and mortgage, etc. Managing people can be both rewarding and depressing and that can fluctuate from day to day.”


Vaughan: “Bridging the users’ expectations of staff is our biggest challenge. Management is working on consistent expectations that we can provide to users and then making sure staff stays consistent. Finding employees that are curious and want to learn more about the industry is getting harder to find. We are finding that employees seem to be more task-oriented lately.”


Carlson: “My challenges are making sure


the rink is rented as planned, meeting budget, and keeping the rink staffed properly. If all these things are going well, life is good.”


WHAT IS YOUR BEST MANAGEMENT TIP?


Dobbs: “Make someone’s day! Everyone


wants to feel valued and important, so say ‘hello’ to them, even if you are tired or having a bad day. Make a point to value the individual, and they will be a great asset to you.”


Fitzgerald: “Leave yourself open to the


possibilities of who can add value to your team. We are the best at what we do when the conversation includes the broadest perspective possible.”


Grate: “Listen. Learn to be a good listener.”


Harton: “Develop a relationship with your staff. I always look for a way to help or be of support to each person individually at some point when it is needed. Tis investment pays dividends when you need them to step up and be of support. It opens up a valuable two-way street.”


Shaffer: “Lead by example! Too many managers get comfortable in the office and no longer do everyday jobs with the rank and file staff. I purposely step out of the office and lace up my boots any time we have a difficult job or just out of the blue to show my staff that I am in the fight with them. Employees have a hard time saying, ‘I will not clean that toilet or carry that table’ when the boss is beside them doing it.


“Te second tip I would give is to show up unannounced when the staff is not expecting it. Keeping employees guessing on when the boss will show up tends to lead to a more efficient workplace.”


14 WINT ER 2 019


Vaughan: “Keep the vision of the big picture and your mission. The best advice we try to implement is to share information with other industry personnel and to be consistent.”


Carlson: “I thought I was in the ice sports business — well, that is true — but once was told not to think of it that way. Tink of being in the people business first and then all your ice sports programs will have a better chance of success. Since I started doing that, the rink has been doing great.”


Flynn: “Be present in the now. Everyone is different, and if you as a manager can navigate the relationship-building process correctly, you will be able to have a workplace that is enjoyable and like a family environment.”


HOW DO YOU MAKE THE WORKPLACE ENJOYABLE?


Dobbs: “I like to joke with my staff. I try


to do friendly pranks and keep everyone involved. Te last prank I pulled off was getting photos of the managers when they were kids and posting them around the facility. I even posted them behind glass and in vending machines so they were not easily torn down. Staff is still looking for photos of me as a kid to get me back.”


Fitzgerald: “When we ask our employees what they like most about work, they almost always answer that it is their co-workers. If our employees enjoy working together, our jobs as managers become increasingly easy.”


Grate: “Even if you are having a bad day,


try to keep a smile on your face and look for the positive. If your staff knows you are always giving it your best and looking on the bright side in difficult situations, then maybe they will as well. It’s not always easy, but I think it goes a long way and your staff sees you as much more approachable.”


Harton: “We laugh a lot! Our staff has a high volume of business and customers to take care of, which can be stressful. Tey have each other’s backs and support each other. Fortunately, everyone has a good sense of humor and when someone is stressed out, another staff member seems to find some humor to share. Work hard, but don’t take yourself too seriously. Keep it light and the environment will be great. If there is a toxic employee or someone


Quick Tip


“Make someone’s day! Everyone wants to feel valued and important, so say ‘hello’ to them, even if you are tired or having a bad day. Make a point to value the individual, and they will be a great asset to you.”


~ Bill Dobbs


not carrying their weight, it is best for them to move on, otherwise they bring everyone else down.”


Shaffer: “Building collective and individual pride in work is the best way to keep work enjoyable. I like to train employees in the essentials but then give them a large amount of creative freedom to make it their own. Sometimes I disagree with the way an employee or a group goes about a task, but if the end product is good, then why fret about details? We all want to feel like our ideas and skills lead to success. I try to provide enough freedom for employees to feel like they personally built or created the product or idea.”


Vaughan: “Keep an open-door policy, listen


to staff, lead by example, be respectful and most importantly, have fun at work.”


Carlson: “Our workplace is an ice arena; it is always enjoyable. I actually don’t think I have to make the job enjoyable for a person working at the rink. Tey have to make the job enjoyable. By engaging with the customer, providing what we promised and taking pride in the work given, the workplace will be enjoyable.”


Flynn: “We are in the recreation field, and recreation is fun. We try not to take ourselves too seriously and plan events outside of the workplace a few times a year to get out socially.”


We are grateful for those who took the time to participate in our management Q&A. We appreciate their willingness to share information for the greater good of our industry. As cliché as it sounds,


“Two heads are better than one” — we are better together. Have a topic you’d like to see covered in Q&A? Please email editor@skateisi.org. Our aim is to support, educate and inspire you in your role as an ice sports industry professional.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40