BY KESI ASHER, Staff Reporter
Left: Rodney Davis tells managers and staff, if you're seen to be working against the interests of the custonmer, start dusting off your resume.
Right:
Rodney Davis, president of Cable and Wireless Jamaica (C&WJ), taken at his office, Carlton Crescent, St. Andrew on Tuesday, August 23, 2005. - WINSTON SILL PHOTOS
TRANSPARENCY, DELIVERY, RESPONSIBILITY and accountability are words that describe the Cable and Wireless President, Rodney Davis.
"You don't have to wear a tie, you just have to dress responsibly," said Rodney Davis.
The 39-year-old professional believes in making himself available to his customers. In his book The President's Promise, he expresses this intention and avails his office numbers through this and other avenues.
Rodney Davis' success in business comes from his formula of transparency among peers, to subordinates and to superiors.
"If you're guided by a spirit of transparency, it forces you to operate with a spirit of ethics. Success comes from simplifying complex issues, address problems head on, be truthful and transparent. If you open yourself up to scrutiny, it forces you to a higher standard. I believe you should deliver on your promise. Promise responsibly," said Davis.
FORMULA
As the 'boss', Davis feels he has more ability to implement the ideas of which he speaks. There is a sense of pride in knowing that what he does can affect the lives of others. This may prove disadvantageous as he will also be responsible for the way in which people's lives are affected. However, he believes that with his formula, all's well that ends well.
On the other hand, some aspects of the job don't always end well. Being always accessible and transparent can be taxing on the president. "To be a good boss, you have to prepare yourself to be accountable for the things you do and say, that's a big responsibility," said Davis.
In keeping with the president's chair, Rodney Davis is very competitive.
"I invite competition. I enjoy a good competitive encounter. I enjoy the challenge and watching it unfold. I dig deeper and I challenge our people to dig deeper. I pay attention to when my people need support and coaching. I was always competitive. I'm not competitive about sports, but I'm competitive intellectually. My competition is me, I always try to be better," said Davis.
Although he is not competitive about sports, he enjoys a good game of golf. His other hobbies include music, reading and spending time with his children. Rodney Davis has four children, two girls, 21 and five, and two boys, six and three years old. He likes to read fiction by black authors.
One of his favourite books is Waiting In Vain, by Colin Channer. Rodney was born in Jamaica and lived on Jackavanda Road in Cockburn Pen. He attended secondary school in Canada and returned to Jamaica to live in 2002.
His first business idea, at age 13, was some T-shirts he made for his Imagination sound crew, Imagine. The T-shirts depicted children with their dreams. Rodney deejayed on this sound until his third year of college, under the name DJ Stone.
"I considered myself a stone cold DJ. I would just play my music," said Rodney.
Playing his music was easy for Rodney, but changing a culture is challenging. "We need to completely shed ourselves of the monopoly culture. It's very difficult for some to accept. We need to get our employees to operate as entrepreneurs within their own space," said Davis.
However, the benefits have been better. "We have reenergised the business, brought back pride to the forefront and given people a feeling of accomplishment that we can win the battle. We have improved the relationship with the union and inspired some employees to do great things," said Rodney.
"Once you've figured out where you want to go, what's your plan, focus on the minimum worst outcome. Turn inwards and focus on whether you can deliver," said Davis.
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