Steve Wynn and Las Vegas: Successful Partnership

Steve Wynn

The talent, energy, and leadership style that has led to the phenomenal success hotel / resort developer Steve Wynn has enjoyed is the subject of this paper. Wynn was born in New Haven, Connecticut on January 27, 1942. He received a degree in English from the University of Pennsylvania, and after his father's death in 1963 he took over his family's bingo business in Maryland. Four years later he moved to Las Vegas, and began a legacy of building resorts with more flair and more success than anyone previously had shown.

Wynn's Style of Leadership

While mentioning just a few of his Las Vegas developments and acquisitions -- the Golden Nugget, The Mirage, Treasure Island, Bellagio, the Wynn and Encore -- it can be said with succinctness that he is worth an estimated $3.2 billion and has built numerous hotels, resorts, and casinos all around the world. He has shown several styles of leadership while developing his impressive list of facilities. He is quoted in Wordpress.com saying, "Other people's successes are good news -- for them and for you. Good for you because they show you a way to go."

Servant Leadership: Meanwhile is it accurate to refer to Wynn's style of leadership as "servant" leadership? The servant leader is a person who "serves first…with the natural feeling that one wants to serve," according to the Robert Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership (CSL). The leadership comes after the initial service, the Center explains; the servant leader makes sure that "other people's highest priority needs are being served" (CSL). Did Wynn serve first before enjoying the fruits of his business success? We know he did serve a number of functions in his parents' bingo parlors. And today Wynn certainly makes sure that his guests are well served. He insists that his employees take "…that extra minute it takes to walk a guest to their destination or the thoughtful phone call to housekeeping to add that special touch for an anniversary" (Wordpress.com PPT). Servant leadership is a "long-term pursuit of the improvement of corporate cultures" and is not to be confused with short-term profit motives (Wordpress.com PPT).

Transformational Leadership: This form of leadership is charismatic and inspires "positive changes in those that follow" because the leader (Wynn) is "energetic, enthusiastic, and passionate" and is hands-on involved while transforming lackluster performance into positive successes (Cherry, 2009). The transformational leader, and Wynn is certainly an example, challenges the status quo and focuses efforts on inspiring people to "change expectations, perceptions, and motivations" (Cherry). He has been able to "realize the ability in employees and use a more transformational leadership style to care for the employees…[which helps him] develop the potential of his employees and increase in productivity in his business development" (Wordpress.com). Indeed, when Wynn transformed the "Golden Nugget" into a beautiful, efficient and cutting-edge desert resort, he began the ultimate transformation of Las Vegas.

Is Wynn an example of the Authentic Leadership Style? The Authentic leader is more interested in "empowering employees than in money or personal power" (Magloff, 2012). Clearly Wynn is very effective at empowering his employees but it is not known if that means more to him than money. The Authentic leader also advocates for change and adheres to five qualities: understanding your purpose; practicing your values; leading with your heart; establishing connected relationships; and demonstrating self-discipline (Magloff).