The conductor doesn’t play every instrument. They don’t tell every musician exactly how to do their job. Instead, they set the direction, create the environment, listen carefully, bring out the best in people and know when to step in — and when to get out of the way. We talk about trust, communication, ego, accountability, knowing your people, and the importance of understanding that your job as a leader isn’t to be the best player in the orchestra. It’s to make the orchestra better.
Trust and Ego
Stephen Hickmore explores leadership through the eyes of a slightly unconventional cellist, and the lessons he learned from watching conductors bring dozens of individual musicians together to create something greater than themselves. A conductor doesn’t play every instrument. They don’t tell every musician exactly how to do their job. Instead, they set the direction, create the environment, listen carefully, bring out the best in people and know when to step in, and when to get out of the way. We talk about trust, communication, ego, accountability, knowing your people, and the importance of understanding that your job as a leader isn’t to be the best player in the orchestra. It’s to make the orchestra better.
Stephen Hickmore, a hospitality professional from Johannesburg South Africa, joined Hospitality Insight with The SilverFox. His career started with THF hotels in the UK and subsequently with the Southern Sun Hotel group in Johannesburg. Stephen’s first steps into entrepreneurship was Hickmore Recruitment / CareerMap, a leading supplier of Senior and Exec recruitment services. He was a founder of Pple Hospitality (formerly HSC), the largest Hospitality Industry full-service outsourced staffing company in South Africa. In March 2020 Stephen became a director and owner of the Swiss Hotel School South Africa, which is now his full time passion.
The Swiss Hotel School South Africa operates under two main institutes: the SHS, Institute of Hospitality Management and the SHS, Institute of Culinary Arts. Stephen writes for a number of publications on food and hospitality industry matters, trends and opinions. He also hosts a Podcast on Spotify “Hospitality Insight with The SilverFox”.
Confessions and Advice
There are also a few confessions along the way about being a rather maverick cellist… because, let’s be honest, leadership doesn’t always go according to the sheet music! The episode asks listeners to consider if they are conducting their team, or if they are trying to play every instrument themselves. Stephen’s background includes hosting conversations about leadership, hospitality, business and the lessons we learn along the way.
