A simple lesson in Leadership

A simple lesson in Leadership. It was a very special day for me, and I was rather elated, as I had taken over as Headmaster of The Bishop’s school Pune. So, I now had my own office, a peon, a phone on the table, a higher salary and certainly more responsibilities. I had worked hard and was proud and thankful for the reward. Things were looking up for me. Incidentally, it was just my seventh year in the institution. Founder’s week was fast approaching and something I had to do without further delay, was to prepare the various duty lists – for the Church service , the PE display , the fete , the past vs present cricket match and the exhibition . I went about the job with gusto, determined to get the lists out well in time. It was the first task I was taking on since my appointment and my enthusiasm knew no bounds. For me it was a breeze – I had assisted others in similar jobs over the years and I thought nothing of it. However, I was soon to realize the folly of haste. No sooner was the list for the PE display put on the notice board in the staff room, than I got the message, that a certain senior master (we will call him Mr X ) was extremely upset. Further discreet enquiries revealed, that for years he had been assigned a certain job for this event and he had carried it out effortlessly - now I had given him something totally different to do - he felt it was a sort of demotion , considering the number of years he had served in the institution and it was a no brainer that others egged him on too . Everyone wants to put a new leader to the test! Mr X had apparently also mentioned that he would not do the duty and would be on leave that day. He added that he felt demoralized and dejected. So here was the situation – me in the hot seat for just a day and already I had a crisis on my hands. Not a very enviable position to be in for a young leader. The aggrieved gentleman had an elder brother working in Bishops too and I was quite friendly with him. A little later, I saw him pass by my office and requested him to come in. Rather than beat around the bush I asked him right away what needed to be done to remedy the situation as I did not intend to let it drag on .The event was about two weeks away and there was plenty of planning to be done – the last thing I needed on my plate was a disgruntled and upset senior member of staff, who was loved and respected by the boys and members of the faculty. He smiled a wry smile and agreed that there was a problem as his brother was upset. His then agreed with me that, rather than let the matter drag on, I should call Mr X and talk the matter over- he assured me that although he was quite hot headed by nature and was quite angry with me , he would probably understand . That evening I rehearsed what I would say and how I would broach the subject the next morning and yes, I was nervous and apprehensive, wondering as to what the outcome would be. Masters who did not live on campus came in at 7.00 am for morning tuition with the boarders and hence I was out in the quadrangle well before that- pacing impatiently and waiting for 7.00am. As soon as I saw him near the senior classroom, I requested him to come to my office. He raised his eyebrows rather incredulously but came towards me. We both walked the fifty meters to my office in ominous silence. We entered the room and I sat down beckoning him to do likewise. He replied that he preferred to stand and oh yes, he was scowling. This was rather awkward but I persisted. I tried offering him a cup of tea, but he refused that as well and instead asked me what I wanted of him. I am not exactly sure as to what came over me at that moment , but, contrary to what I had initially planned , I walked round the table, put my arm around his shoulder and just said I was sorry for hurting him. What happened next took me totally off guard. He hugged me and burst into tears. Seeing that reaction, my eyes welled up with tears too, but we then both sat down and neither spoke for a few minutes. Things calmed down and I guess we both felt a trifle relieved. I broke the ice by saying that I had prepared the list and made changes as I felt he would be better suited to the new task. I also added that it was the first task I was undertaking, and, in all probability, the over enthusiasm had done me in! I told him that if it helped, I would change the duty given to him. Throughout this time, Mr X kept looking down and never said a word. His tightly clasped hands told me in no uncertain terms that he was angry. He then suddenly stood up, came around to the side of the table and told me that there was no need to change the duty and that he would do it. It was now his time to apologise and he did so by saying that he had probably overreacted, which was wrong. We shook hands – it was a rather long shake. We then sat down and probably chatted for about an hour on various topics of school life. He accepted my offer of a cup of tea. I listened to the story of his life and I told him mine and I do believe, that day we both saw each other in a totally new light. He vowed to support me in everything I planned, and I felt happy that I had found a friend and a confidant I could consult and learn from. I informed him of how I planned to function and what needed to change, and he understood and appreciated the facts I presented. Thereafter, whenever there was an important event or function coming up, I ensured that I involved Mr X in the planning and execution. To his credit he took on all the most onerous tasks and carried them out willingly and to perfection. He also followed up to ensure that all staff and pupils carried out their duties as well. What more could I have asked for? He was reliable, loyal and was a valuable member of my core team henceforth. Although nothing was intentional, someone was hurt because of my actions and I did learn a few valuable leadership lessons from this incident. 1. Haste makes waste – spend more time but be thorough 2. Look at all angles 3. Consult, consult, consult 4. Teamwork is critical to success 5. Admit when at fault – saying sorry may not be easy, but it is the correct thing to do, when wrong 6. Remember that human beings have feelings and that some people are far more sensitive than others. 7. Being gentle and understanding does not make you a pushover 8. Tell the truth. 9. Rather than antagonize, attempt to win people over- having good people skills is crucial. 10. One must not come across as threatening or aggressive 11. Being approachable is important – it builds trust 12. Face a problem head on rather than letting it fester. 13. Never shy away from finding a solution. 14. Be a good listener – sometimes people just want to be heard. 15. Sometimes it is better to lose the battle to win the war. Mr X and I remained colleagues and good friends for years thereafter – there was so much mutual respect and admiration. Do not get me wrong –he was argumentative by nature and questioned several of my decisions, but was somebody, who, when convinced, was a gem of a man. He also recognized the fact that I took my job seriously, knew what I was doing and the direction I was steering the school in. He was a first-rate teacher, a firm disciplinarian, he looked after some important co-curricular activities and was well respected by all as he was one of the longest serving masters in the school. Sadly,when he passed on after serving the institution for over thirty years , I was one of the first people that was informed and along with other masters in the school , we made all the necessary arrangements for his burial. I will always remember Mr X as a good human being – one of the stalwarts and pillars of The Bishop’s school, Pune. Rest in peace my friend and thank you.