#155 Fred Fung, GM of Bonita Bay Club; "When You Don't Need Credit..."

Imagine being the General Manager for one of the BEST private clubs in the entire country and refusing to be nominated for an award (that you truly deserve!).   “I don’t need it.”   Below are THE TOP 3 things that I learned yesterday about LEADERSHIP from Fred Fung, the General Manager of the Bonita Bay Club in Florida during my visit and training/keynote presentation with his team.   1.YOU NOT ME   Not “my way”, but “our way”.   Carry someone else ahead of you across the finish line.   Authentically put others AHEAD of YOURSELF.   My friend Fred shared this quote by Harry S. Truman  that he lives by and that has changed the trajectory of his entire career.   "It's amazing what you can accomplish when you don't care who gets credit".   It is not about him.  Its not about his needs.  He is able to use an approach that I talk about for leaders called “ERASE YOU”.  At work, he puts his employees needs ahead of his own.  He puts the member’s needs ahead of his own.  He removes obstacles and barriers to enable others to succeed.  He doesn’t need to be in the photo.  He would rather be “anonymous” in his contributions.   Perhaps you’ve seen the video of the marathon runner who stops short of the finish line to help another runner who can barely stand.  This gentleman carries the weak runner ahead of him, so that the other person can finish ahead of himself.   Literally putting “others ahead of yourself.”.   2. CARE DEEPLY   “Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care”- Theodore Roosevelt   CARE ABOUT As part of his role, he is often required to make massive decisions within minutes.  The influencers for those decisions always remains most heavy for OTHERS.    After conducting a KEYNOTE/TRAINING SESSION for his team, I began to understand even more the impact of his approach.   “This is the BEST job I’ve ever had.  I’ve been here for 20+ years, and everyday I’m able and encouraged to learn more, to challenge myself, and even do more.”   Fred celebrates his team.  Knows every employee by name and is careful to inject something personal about them when he introduces me.  “Hugh is responsible for 140 golf instructors”. “Jean has been here for years, always works with a smile, and is so good at making salads that there is one named after him on the menu.”  “Robert loves teaching new servers how to do their jobs better, and he won a car years ago by making a half-court shot at a competition.”     3. YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO THE PODCAST NOW FOR TIP #3   More about: FREDERICK FUNG, CEO and General Manager, Bonita Bay Club   Fred started with Bonita Bay Club in 2010, departed in 2017, and re-joined in 2019. In the interim, Fred was the General Manager and Chief Operating Officer of Charlotte Country Club, a Top 10 ranked Platinum Club of America and a Top 50 ranked Platinum Club of the World. With 35 years of hospitality leadership experience, Fred spent twenty years of his career in the luxury hotel sector, highlighted by a 7-year tenure with Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, opening their triple (hotel, restaurant, and spa) 5-Star property in Miami. In 2007, he transitioned to private club management with Turnberry Isle, Fisher Island, and joined Bonita Bay Club immediately following its turnover from developer to member owned.   Bonita Bay Club is Florida’s largest member-owned private club golf facility. As Chief Executive Officer, Fred is responsible for the operational and strategic oversight of two campuses, five golf courses, 16 tennis courts, 15 pickleball courts, a 60,000 square foot Lifestyle Center, six restaurants, croquet, bocce, a resort style pool, and serving 4000 Members and 600 staff. https://bonitabayclub.net More podcasts available at https://bartaberkey.com/podcast To contact Bart for SPEAKING OR TRAINING ENGAGEMENTS; bart@mostpeopledont.com