I have two stories I want to share with you that will become tools you can use with your direct reports and in many other areas of your life as well. We deal with human beings with human issues and sometimes a simple story can help put them at ease. When one of your direct reports is having a bad day or a rough time in life, try this one.
A king one called his wise men to him and asked “Wise men, I want you to give me something that will make me happy when I am sad and make me sad when I am happy.”
“King, why would want such a thing?”
“Well, as king I can never allow myself to be too happy or too sad in front of the people. I want something that will help remind me that my people may not be as happy or as sad as I am.”
“We shall do our best sire.” The wise men went away and came back some weeks later.
“Oh good King we have done as you have asked and brought you something that will make you happy when you are sad and make you sad when you are happy.” They handed the king a ring.
“What is this, how will this ring make me happy when I am sad and sad when I am happy?”
“Look at the inscription sire.”
It read this. “This too shall pass.”
Life is a series of ups and downs and no matter how down it seems right now, this too shall pass.
You would be surprised how effective a good story can be at the right time. Use your personal history and don’t be afraid to tell your story to help your people have a better day. This next story is to illustrate what leadership can really be.
The term landlord comes from the term Lord of the Land and the Lord cared for the people who cared for the land and saw to their needs. The Lord of the Lords or the King cared for the Lords as he cared for the people. Most people don’t realize that the true king never sits on a thrown nor does he where a crown.
He is wandering his kingdom and finding those who have a need he can fulfill. As he helps these people, he gets to know them and he gets to see how it is they came to have this need. The king is a wise man and as he gets the full story he can see if these people live by the king’s law. If the king found these to be good people, then something wonderful would happen after he left. If these people were in foul of the king’s law, something horrible would happen after he left. Either way no one ever really knew who the king was and that was his power.
If you knew you were in the presence of the king you would put your best foot forward and make sure you were doing everything right, but that is not a fair look for the king.
There are two points to this story. The first is to always be doing what you know you should, because you never know who is walking by and second, the king’s subjects do not serve the king, the king serves his subjects.
Listening to your people is your greatest tool. They are on the front the lines doing the dirty work, so why not ask their opinion and make adjustments based on those opinions. Let’s face it, no one likes being told how to do their job by someone who has not or cannot do the job they do.
In my side work as a consultant and life coach it is essential that I listen to my clients and hear the needs they are telling me and see the needs they are showing me. Convincing people of the needs you see, but they do not is what being a true leader is all about.
It can take time to lead someone to the needs they do not see, but in your job you have the tools to help show them the right path to the best performance. If you do not have performance and career action plans for each of your direct reports, start writing because you are failing as a leader already.
Hard truth and I’m not here to wipe your nose, I’m here to make a leader out of you if you can do the work.