Have you ever experienced a word in your vocabulary that is taken for granted? You know its general meaning and your pencil (or keyboard) has placed the letters in the boxes of a crossword puzzle, but when the combination of individual letters are connected, or you speak the word aloud, a simple vocabulary word comes to life in a new way. Over the past few months this awareness has occurred with a few words including flourishing and Kairos, but there is another tiny little three-letter word that seems to be emerging repeatedly in my readings, bringing with it, a new appreciation for the nuance of language. The word is hub.
Now, for my engineering colleagues like Don Van, this might be one of the simplest concepts to consider in their vast knowledge of moving parts and the need for mechanical pieces to each perform their designated role for a device to function properly, but I’ve never considered the word very deeply. Even while using the word hub cap, I understand that it is a round, metal object located on the tires of a vehicle, but I can’t say that I’ve deeply considered that it is designed to actually cover (or cap) the hub of the wheel and will rotate with the axle. As a frequent airline patron, I understand the terminology of a hub city and that rarely do I have the opportunity to fly without visiting one of those hub cities, as direct flights are so rare these days. But unless I return to my elementary school days of the weekly spelling and vocabulary tests, I admit that many words pass through my mind without considering their multiple applications to our language.
As research continues into organizational culture and the role that relationships play in teams and groups, this past week I was prompted to grapple with the concept of the Hub of the Wheel and its vital role in creating environments where people can flourish. In The Spirit of Hospitality, Larry Stuart discusses the importance of continually seeking ways to perfect any system or organization. Sharing his experiences from the hotel industry, Stuart offers his explanation on the critical nature of the Hub of the Wheel, or the leader who is at the center of the organization’s culture.
“There is a difference between a manager and a leader. A manager is a mechanism that makes the wheel go around. Leaders are the center bore of the wheel itself, supporting the weight of the entire machine. They work alongside their team members with care and concern, empowering their success…. We must enable and empower those serving so that they may successfully meet the goal we’ve set. This could look like extra training, mentoring, working the floor alongside our team, making certain guests’ needs are being met while our staff does the work, or resolving any issues that arise during execution of the plan. We must be present. Sincere support looks a lot like coming alongside those who you’re in authority over. Not only do we serve those who are our boss, we serve those whose boss we are.”
As a task-driven introvert, I admittedly can work alone at times, so focused on my individual role, that my awareness of the other parts working diligently to keep the vehicle (or organization) moving forward is diminished. Pursuing my individual goals becomes manageable, but how much better would it be if I were empowered by the Hub of the Wheel so that my service to others is improved. Yes, my responsibilities can be completed with support from management just the way a tree can survive when its basic needs are met through the water and sun; but imagine how much richer the fruit would taste if that tree were deeply nourished (led)? Knowing the Hub of the Wheel is supporting the weight of the entire machine or the roots are providing life to the branches, the other parts are able to perform more efficiently and productively.
For the students in my care to flourish, I need to be the Hub of the Wheel supporting their learning and serving them in a way that equips them for the future. For me to flourish, I need a supporting Hub of the Wheel that works diligently to provide a clear vision for where the organization is going and offers guidance and direction about what is valued. Whether we are considering a guest entering to stay in a hotel or a student entering a college classroom, the organizational culture which is created is vital to the ability to thrive and not just survive.
When have you experienced a person who was the Hub? A person who, as the definition implies, was the effective center of an activity, region, or network. Please share in the comments below.
Reference
Stuart, L. (2019). The spirit of hospitality: How to add the missing ingredients your business needs. Morgan James Publishing.
Flourishing @ Life 
From the engineering standpoint, the significance of a hub lies not only at its definition as to what it is but also at its function as to what it does. On the latter point, it transmits or distributes power from a source to some other output devices accomplish the intended and useful work. This, I believe, is also what author Larry Stuart referred to in his book as the enabling and empowering others in an organization.
The post on the “Hub of the Wheel” by Dr. Julie Powell took me immediately to the Navigators’ Wheel illustration of Christ-centered life—Christ at the hub, 4 spokes (Prayer, the Word, Fellowship, Witnessing) transmitting power, and the obedient Christian life in action making up the circumference on the “outpost.” I am reminded today that no one empowers more than Christ. He took a chance on me (and He still does every day) in channeling His power, His good name, and Himself to me. I pray that, as an output device, I will accomplish the intended and useful work for my Savior and His Kingdom. To this end, I pray the servant’s prayer: “Lord, please grant me success today.” (Genesis 24:12)
On the other end of the spectrum, I, too, in my classroom and with the students, “need to be the Hub of the Wheel supporting their learning and serving them in a way that equips them for the future.” To do this, I pray to be reminded that I need to be like Christ—willing to take a chance with my students, risking different ways to channel knowledge and contents to them, supporting their learning endeavors more closely by working the floor with them. I like this quote from the referenced book: “Not only do we serve those who are our boss, we serve those whose boss we are.” I think it is very relevant and very fitting to bring this to a close!
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I work in a very busy restaurant here in Jackson. Every week we have a visit from the Vice President of our company and our District Manager. When our Vice President is here, he is definitely the Hub of the Wheel.
This man used to be the general manager of our store. He worked his way up in the restaurant business, beginning as a dishwasher many years ago and now holding the title of Vice President our our corporate chain of stores. When he is here, everything runs more smoothly. He seats people at the door waiting for a table. He greets the guests, makes drinks, runs food, busses the tables, and even washes dishes if necessary. No one struggles to get things done when he and the district manager are here. The shift runs more smoothly and the stress levels of the staff go way down because we have help when we need it.
Some of our other managers help out when it is really busy, but oftentimes they will let us handle it all until it looks like we are starting to run high ticket times or the restaurant is on a wait and we can’t get all the tables clean in a timely manner. When the Vice President is here, nothing goes undone and everyone feels supported.
I can tell the difference in this man and some of the managers who work underneath him. They jump in sometimes, but sometimes they will be sitting at a table eating lunch watching two or three of us try to handle everything and they will only get up and help if they hear the expos calling for runners too many times or if one of us goes and asks for help. The Vice President will make sure everything is handled before he takes a break. If we get suddenly busy, he will jump back in and help out again.
I think this work ethic may be what has led to his success in the restaurant business. He got where he is today by working hard and by being more than just a manager. He is the best example of a leader that I can imagine.
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While I was reading this article I kept being reminded that while the hub holds, supports and carries the burden of the object it also can be a source of life and strength. My husband is definitely the hub of our family both in his nickname “Hubs” but more importantly in the fact that his strength and his ability to provide for us financially, spiritually, physically and emotionally makes our family who we are.
I believe that when we are told in scripture that the man is the head of the household the image of a hub is just as fitting. A hub is something that is easily over looked and ordinary however if the hub is broken, and not fulfilling its job then there is an obvious problem. When we support our husbands and allow them to do the job God has created them to do it allows them to support the rest of the load which is something I as the wife cannot do on my own.
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