eBusiness Weekly
Arthur Marara
The better part of power is discretion, as a leader you have the power to build or destroy the people that you lead with the words that you say.
How do you address your employees when they make mistakes? There are some people who take the opportunity to undress an employee in front of everyone so that they make a “perfect” example out of you.
Some will copy their venomous email to people who were not even copied in the initial conversation.
What is your objective when you correct the people that you lead? As a leader, it is important to approach the task of correcting your employees with tact, empathy, and a commitment to their growth and development.
One great teacher
An old man meets a young man who asks:
“Do you remember me?”
And the old man says no. Then the young man tells him he was his student, And the teacher asks:
“What do you do, what do you do in life?”
The young man answers:
“Well, I became a teacher.”
“ah, how good, like me?” Asks the old man.
“ Well, yes. In fact, I became a teacher because you inspired me to be like you.”
The old man, curious, asks the young man at what time he decided to become a teacher. And the young man tells him the following story:
“One day, a friend of mine, also a student, came in with a nice new watch, and I decided I wanted it.
I stole it, I took it out of his pocket.
Shortly after, my friend noticed the his watch was missing and immediately complained to our teacher, who was you.
Then you addressed the class saying, ‘This student’s watch was stolen during classes today. Whoever stole it, please return it.’
I didn’t give it back because I didn’t want to. You closed the door and told us all to stand up and form a circle.
You were going to search our pockets one by one until the watch was found.
However, you told us to close our eyes, because you would only look for his watch if we all had our eyes closed.
We did as instructed.
You went from pocket to pocket, and when you went through my pocket, you found the watch and took it.
You kept searching everyone’s pockets, and when you were done you said ‘open your eyes. We have the watch.’
You didn’t tell on me and you never mentioned the episode. You never said who stole the watch either.
That day you saved my dignity forever. It was the most shameful day of my life.
But this is also the day I decided not to become a thief, a bad person, etc. You never said anything, nor did you even scold me or take me aside to give me a moral lesson.
I received your message clearly.
Thanks to you, I understood what a real educator needs to do.
Do you remember this episode, professor?
The old professor answered, ‘Yes, I remember the situation with the stolen watch, which I was looking for in everyone’s pocket. I didn’t remember you, because I also closed my eyes while looking.’
This is the essence of teaching: If to correct you must humiliate; you don’t know how to teach.”
How profound this story is.
Leadership Lessons from this story:
There are so many life lessons from the story that I want to share with you this week:
The power of inspiration
The old teacher unknowingly inspired the young man to become a teacher by being a role model. Our actions and behaviour can have a profound impact on others. “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” [John Quincy Adams].
At the core of effective leadership lies the ability to inspire and motivate people towards a common goal.
When we think about remarkable leaders throughout history, from world-renowned figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela to visionary entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs and Oprah Winfrey, we can trace their extraordinary achievements back to their innate capacity to inspire those around them.
“Leaders inspire people” is not merely a statement; it encapsulates the essence of what makes great leaders stand out from the crowd.
Leaders who inspire people have the remarkable ability to ignite passion, awaken potential, and create lasting impacts. Their influence extends far beyond their immediate circle, leaving an indelible mark on the lives they touch.
Leading by example
The old teacher demonstrated integrity and compassion by not publicly shaming or humiliating the young man when he stole the watch. Instead, he created a situation that allowed the young man to learn from his mistake privately.
Dignity and respect
The old teacher valued the dignity of his students. By asking everyone to close their eyes during the search for the stolen watch, he treated them with respect and allowed them to save face. This approach showed that correction and discipline can be done without humiliation.
Effective teaching involves empathy:
The teacher’s empathy in understanding the emotional impact of his actions on the young man helped shape his decision to become a better person.
True educators should strive to understand the emotional needs of their students and create a supportive environment for learning.
Actions speak louder than words
The story highlights the importance of actions in teaching. The old teacher’s actions left a significant impression on the young man, teaching him a valuable lesson about honesty, integrity, and the importance of treating others with respect.
Arthur Marara is a corporate law attorney, keynote speaker, peak performance and corporate strategy speaker. With his delightful humour, raw energy, and wealth of life experiences, he captivates audiences and inspires them to unlock their full potential. He is also a leadership expert and a dedicated leadership mentor. He is passionate about developing effective leaders. Through his engaging talks and workshops, he imparts invaluable insights and practical strategies that empower individuals to lead with confidence and make a lasting impact. Arthur is the author of “Toys for Adults” a thought provoking book on entrepreneurship, and “No one is Coming” a book that seeks to equip leaders to take charge. Send your feedback to [email protected] or Visit his website www.arthurmarara.com or contact him on +263772467255 (Calls) or WhatsApp: +263780055152.
