Ensuring Team Members Have a Voice

This blog post was written by? Kevin Nephew , president and chief executive officer of Seneca Gaming Corporation, in November 2022 as part of our?52 Weeks of Leadership Program.

In the Seneca culture, we have a tradition that everyone is of the same height, a community of equals.?In practice, this is shown that regardless of position, rank, role, or salary, everyone is a person and everyone demands respect and a voice.?This goes further to include the concepts that leadership is accessible, that team members know who they are and that they walk among the people.?Traditionally in Seneca culture, this is depicted in nature. Each chief was recognized as being a tree, with none being more important than the others, and when they are together, they form a forest.

In order to put this into practice, Seneca Gaming Corporation recently rolled out a new mission, vision, and values in hopes of taking the first step in creating an improved workplace and organizational culture.?As we talk about what success looks like in this, and how we accomplish it, our goal is to bring our minds together in a good way.?This includes giving a voice to everyone; we are better if every person contributes and is heard.?As leaders, we have to ask for input, but we also must value differing opinions as we make informed decisions.

For leaders to be strong, they have to rely on their teams.?In the traditional mindset, the Senecas look at arrows.?When you hold one arrow and try to break it, it easily snaps in half.?However, when you hold a bundle of arrows and try to break them, they stay intact and together.?When our teams and team members work together, have trust in one another, and can share multiple ideas and viewpoints they in return are faster, better, and smarter.?They are sga’nig?:n, stronger together.?And as our new mission states, we provide the best place to work and play.

Learn more about the University at Buffalo School of Management’s?Center for?Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness.