Leadership—Setting Others Up to Succeed
The new position would include a promotion and an increase in pay, but Stan was not sure he wanted to leave. He knew the operations inside and out and liked being the only technician working on his scientific experiment. It would not bother him if he were not selected.
Nevertheless, two weeks later he was notified he would be transferred and promoted.
The seven employees assigned to him were of a different ethnic background, and they felt one of them should have received the promotion. Stan understood their language, but he conducted his interactions with them in English and ignored the insults the employees hurled at him in their native language.
Stan could have become nervous about this situation, but he used his time and energy to find out why the experiment was not operating as planned. Coordinating with supporting divisions, Stan developed a plan to rebuild the scientific apparatus while upper management was out of town at a one-week seminar.
The seven techs gave Stan some grief over the plan, but they all worked together and completed the renovation. It surprised the employees when they saw Stan jump in and help do the work. When management returned and fired up the machine, they were all astounded at the results. They exclaimed, "This is like a brand new machine! We have never seen results like this!"
When they attempted to congratulate Stan, he called the other seven men to the meeting and gave all the credit to them, extolling their expertise one-by-one. Needless to say, they quickly understood Stan was not their enemy.
Stan had been attentive to their individual qualities and created a work plan that would, if they cooperated, reveal their knowledge and skill. His plan worked, and because they cooperated, they each received special recognition and a financial bonus.
And they received another surprise. Stan let them know he understood their native tongue. When they enquired why he put up with their sarcasm and disparaging remarks, Stan told them he understood their hurt and planned to make one of them his assistant.
And he did.
Stan picked the man who could be mentored for the position and groomed him to become the next supervisor.
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If only there were more peolpe like Stan in this world, I myself will not feel so left out on my Job. Keep up the good work Stan
Posted by Marina Blackman, 10/09/2010 9:41am (2 years ago)
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