Unethical use of Power and Influence Skills

The Presidential election is an exciting time for Americans. We are given the choice to vote for a President that we believe in and whom will lead our country for the next four years. For Americans, we have the freedom to decide our future. Unfortunately, some of those in power take advantage of others and try to control their votes. In the 2012 Presidential election, this type of coercive power was seen by David Siegel, CEO of Westgate Resorts. CNN reports in an article, CEO Emails 7,000 Employees: Defeat Obama or Else that David Siegel sent out a company wide email threatening to lay off employees if Obama was re-elected. The article’s author Chris Isidore reported that the email contained the following quotes:

"The economy doesn't currently pose a threat to your job. What does threaten your job however, is another 4 years of the same Presidential administration...If any new taxes are levied on me, or my company, as our current President plans, I will have no choice but to reduce the size of this company.Rather than grow this company I will be forced to cut back. This means fewer jobs, less benefits and certainly less opportunity for everyone."

CEO Siegel didn't mention Romney's name anywhere in the e-mail, and he writes he "certainly wouldn't interfere with your right to vote for whomever you choose." Although this email does not outright threaten employees with layoffs if they vote for Obama, it is surely implied. Siegel abused his positional power as CEO of Westgate Resorts. His centrality to the company’s employees is monumental to the company’s success but he abused that power by sending out company-wide emails threatening layoffs if the election did not go his way. It is unethical to threaten his employees or to try to control their vote in one direction.

The influence strategy he used here is retribution, implementing both coercion and intimidation to his employees. By threatening their jobs, Siegel is pressuring his employees to vote for Romney. It is clearly unethical for anyone to impede on their employee’s right to vote.

Administrative Services Manager

Whenever you being asked by a friend, " what is your major?" Someone might answer," I study business." but whenever the question goes deeper, someone might say, " I study business management" and the other person would follow up with ," you want to someday be a CEO or a manager?" Since business management is a very broad major, people always think by studying business management you might someday be a manager or even a CEO of a company.

Since its so broad, people think being a manager doesn't really require a degree in business or even attend college. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), some management occupations only requires a high school diploma or equivalent as an entry level manager. Becoming a administrative services manager only requires a high school diploma or equivalent to become one. However, some administrative services managers need at least a bachelor’s degree. Those with a bachelor’s degree typically study business, engineering, or facility management. According to the BLS, the administrative services manager career field is expected to grow as fast as average. Employment of administrative services managers is expected to grow 15 percent from 2010 to 2020.

Administrative services managers plan, direct, and coordinate supportive services of an organization. Their specific responsibilities vary by the type of organization and may include keeping records, distributing mail, and planning and maintaining facilities. In a small organization, they may direct all support services and may be called the business office manager. Large organizations may have several layers of administrative managers who specialize in different areas.

Some of the important qualities listed in becoming a administrative services manager:

Analytical skills. Administrative services managers must be able to review an organization’s procedures and find ways to improve efficiency.

Communication skills. Much of an administrative services manager’s time is spent working with other people. Therefore, communication is a key quality.

Detail oriented. Administrative services managers must pay attention to details. This quality is necessary across a range of tasks, from ensuring that the organization complies with building codes to managing the process of buying equipment.

Leadership skills. In managing workers and coordinating administrative duties, administrative services managers must be able to motivate employees and deal with issues that may arise.

source :http://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/administrative-services-managers.htm#tab-4

In order to become an administrative services manager, its really an advantage to get an certification from the International Facility Management Association. This programs has two levels where you can get the Facilities Management Professional (FMP) certification and the Certified Facility Manager (CFM) certification. According to the BLS site, people entering the profession can get the FMP as a steppingstone to the CFM. For the CFM, applicants must meet certain educational and experience requirements. There are online courses for people who can just study at home and there are conference and expos where you can go and network with people and learn some new things.