|
Home | Contact Us |
|
Article Categories
Search |
Articles » LeadershipTrue Leadership - Issue #8
Who Needs You?
He decided to give it a try and on a Monday morning he went down to the area where the drivers were getting their trucks ready for the deliveries they would be making that day. At first he stumbled through a couple of attempts at trying to strike up a conversation with a couple of the drivers. Then he noticed a driver named John over in the corner who looked troubled. He approached John and asked if there was anything he could do to help him out. John said everything was fine, but the CEO could tell that was not the case. “John, I can tell something's bothering you and if something's bothering you then it's bothering me too, because we're on the same team.” said the CEO. John replied “It's my Mom. She's really sick and the hospital has her in intensive care. My Dad passed away a few years ago and I'm all she has. I'm really worried about her, but don't worry about me. I'll still get my job done here.” The CEO stopped John and said “John you need to leave right now and go take care of your Mom.” “I can't sir. I don't have any more vacation left. I've got to work today. I need the money. I can't afford to take an unpaid day. It'll be OK.” “John, don't worry about the money. I'll make sure you get paid. Go take care of your Mom and call me this afternoon to let me know how she is doing.” John left to take care of his Mom, but now there was a problem. Who was going to make John's deliveries for him? There were no other drivers available that morning. The CEO hadn't driven a delivery truck in many years, but he figured it would be a good experience to work on the front lines and see what his drivers did each day. He finished loading up the truck and went out to make his deliveries. It was an amazing day for him. He stumbled through his deliveries, but he got a view of the business and it's customers that he had never seen before. He also had a new appreciation for the drivers. When he returned back to his office he noticed that John had called him. He immediately returned John's call and reached him at the hospital. “How's your Mom doing John?” “A little bit better today. The doctor says she's still in serious condition, but she should be OK. Thanks for letting me be with her today. It was a great surprise for my Mom. I'll be back to drive my truck first thing in the morning sir.” “John I don't want you coming back to work until you know your Mom is going to be OK. We'll take care of your deliveries and you'll still get your pay.” A couple hours later the CEO surprised John by showing up at the hospital. He spent about 45 minutes with John and left some flowers. He told John that he wanted a daily report on how his Mom was doing and that he would be stopping by the hospital to see John for a few minutes each day on his way home from work. John had tears in his eyes and gave the CEO a hug when he left. The next morning the CEO got in early to finish the work he hadn't gotten to the day before and then he went to the trucking area to make John's deliveries for him again. Meanwhile the other drivers were talking. Someone asked “Where's John? I haven't seen him since yesterday morning.” Another driver replied, “He's at the hospital with his Mom. The CEO told him he had to go be with her and that he would make sure that John wouldn't lose any money for being away from work. The CEO has been making John's deliveries for him.” John returned to work one week later after his Mom had been released from the hospital. During the week that he was making John's deliveries the CEO got a chance to meet with customers and just as importantly spend time with the drivers. When the union vote came up a few weeks later the drivers decided to stay non-union. They knew they had a CEO who would do his best to understand them and take care of them. Who needs you? Is someone on your team struggling with an illness in the family, a difficult relationship, a troubled child? Let them know that if they have a problem then you have a problem. Let them know that you care. It's what great leaders do. Make it an outstanding day, |
Latest Leadership Headlines | |||||||||||||||
Home | Speaking Presentations | Live Events | Products | Testimonials | Ezine Newsletter | FAQs Thomas McCarthy & Associates • P.O.Box 132, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067 USA • Tel: (858) 759-8484 ©2007
Thomas McCarthy & Associates. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy |
