Goodbye to a Management Role Model
June 29, 2009 by Phil Gerbyshak
Filed under Business
This past week we lost a role model for managers everywhere.
No, not Michael Jackson, though his music will be missed greatly.
I’m talking about Billy Mays, celebrity pitchman for such products as Kaboom household cleaner and the amazing Zorbeez, and a role model for managers everywhere.
If you’re wondering if I’ve lost my mind, I ask that you stay with me a little longer, and see the 5 reasons why Billy Mays was such a great role model for managers.
Contagious Smile – The first thing I always noticed about Billy Mays was the guy is infectiously happy. Any time you watch one of Billy’s infomercials, his smile always lit up the TV screen. If this guy was your manager, you couldn’t help but smile a little, even if you were just curious what made this guy so darn happy!
Enthusiasm – Watch any Billy Mays commercial, and you’ll know how enthusiastic the products he sells, no matter if it’s Mighty Putty, Laundry Balls, or whatever he was selling. How excited are you and your managers about what YOU do every day? Take a little Billy Mays to work with you today, and get excited about managing again!
Clear communication style – Billy Mays always spoke loudly and clearly and in a manner that showed he knew what he was doing. Imagine if you could make say what your team needed to do that clear! You’d be even more effective!
Deep product knowledge – Nobody knew what Billy Mays was selling as deeply as Billy Mays. I watched a few interviews Billy did, and he knew everything about his products. As a manager, you may not need to get this deep in your knowledge, but imagine what would happen if you were?
Amazing eye contact – Billy Mays was the KING of eye contact. Every commercial he shot I felt like he was looking me right in the eye and talking to ME. If you’re speaking to your team in a meeting, try to look each person in the eye at least a few times to show you’re connected to them.
Billy Mays – management role model. May you rest in peace in the big infomercial in the sky.
What do you think about Billy Mays?
Image: Zuma Press
You’re absolutely right, Phil! Billy Mays got everyone’s attention when he spoke. I first heard the news of his death from a group of teens who loved his infomercials! He had great qualities that each of us would do well to emulate.
Billy Mays was fun to watch! I think you have done a good job of figuring out why he was so believable.
“Even if you were just curious what made this guy so darn happy!”
Heh, he was on cocaine. Quite a role model.
Interesting point Lyman, and one that makes me wonder how much of the personality was based on the drugs that may or may not have been present in much of Billy’s life…and how much was authentically him. I’ll never know, so I’ll just leave the good memory in tact and not tarnish him any further. Thanks for the comment!