Can the “Love Chapter” work at work?

Patience

If we are to make the Love Chapter work at work, “leading with love is not an excuse to be ‘soft’ on people,” writes Manby. “As leaders, we must hold people accountable. Yet at the same time, we must always admonish with patience and respect. Our goal isn’t simply performance; it’s to protect the dignity of the people on our team. Whether we correct and train our employees in public or in private, our goal is always to do so with respect and love. After all, that’s exactly how we want to be treated.”

But what does Manby really know about managing employees? Well, he’s the boss of more than 30,000 employees at 26 locations in 10 states, including Branson’s Silver Dollar City, Dollywood in Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains and Georgia’s historic Stone Mountain Park.

Trust

If leaders are to live the Apostle Paul’s words in the Love Chapter, they “must trust their employees to perform their best,” writes Manby. “More importantly, they must act on that trust. You can show trust in your team by listening well and not interrupting with your own ideas, and by letting employees make the decisions they are responsible for. In fact, our goal as leaders should be to make the least number of decisions.”

Manby appeared on the primetime TV show Undercover Boss, masquerading as a newly hired rookie employee. On the show he struggled with the challenges of hosting Stone Mountain’s Ride-The-Ducks attraction. Then he had to put on a Wild West costume to work the front gate at Silver Dollar City – where he also stayed after hours as a custodian. Then he put on a cheap tuxedo to experience the tough life of a dinner show waiter aboard the Showboat Branson Belle. Finally, he had to clean fish tanks at the company’s Adventure Aquarium in New Jersey.

Unselfishness

Suffering through the humbling tasks of a rookie employee – on nationwide TV with millions watching and chuckling, Manby says he learned that “being unselfish isn’t just for individuals – it’s for organizations, too,” he writes.

“The gift of leadership brings with it the awesome responsibility of giving properly of our time and resources but also of being a steward of giving for the organization. At Herschend Family Entertainment, we have established the Share It Forward Foundation to help our employees in need. It all starts with the selfless donation of employees and is matched by the selfless donation of the company. This foundation has now helped hundreds of employees.”

Above: Manby on Undercover Boss, working as a waiter aboard the Showboat Branson Belle