by Randy J. Harvey
"Great individuals often seek their own interests and the accolades of others . . . but immortals seek to stir the hearts, strengthen the spirits and stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves." Mary Lou Harvey (Mama)
Buried in the center of every organization is an institution called the Human Resources Department. Depending on the company, it fills a variety of responsibilities. What distinguishes a great Human Resource Department from an Immortal one is how they view employees: are employees a resource or are they human? All kidding aside, what you believe about the employees who work in your organization is the harbinger for the health of your organization. If you see them as malingerers, malcontents or miscreants, do not be surprised if they meet your expectations. Immortal leaders see their workforce in a far more positive light.
Like my Mama, they recognize that the magic in the human spirit is a boundless reservoir of possibility. Mama had the ability to see the good in people, regardless of what they looked like on the outside. She saw beyond their off-putting conduct and somehow managed to touch their heart. Whether it was mean ol’ uncle Mike, or Marvin the bristling butcher, she melted them with her overwhelming faith in their worth as human beings. Somehow in her presence they were more than they thought they could be - she believed in them.
In the past I told my graduate students the story of a retired teacher who was called in during the middle of the semester to take over a very troubled class of students who had succeeded in running off four teachers before the Thanksgiving break. The principal tried to find a highly qualified teacher, trained in all the latest strategies and techniques, but in the end found nobody willing to take on this raucous crowd of rebels. Finally, the principal called on Ms. Anna Sumption. He knew that if he told her what had been going on she'd refuse the task, so when he invited her to take the position he neglected to tell her about the previous four teachers and the student subterfuge that led to their demise. Instead he said, “It’s a special class of unique individuals who aren’t living up to their potential.” On Anna’s first day he loitered around the classroom door expecting her to come screaming out at any second. It never happened. In fact the rest of the year went by and there were no problems in her class. In stark contradiction to everything that had happened previously, her students performed in the top twenty-five percent of all of the students in the high school.
At the end of the school year in celebration of Anna Sumption’s great success with these students, the Superintendent of Schools came to present her with an award for outstanding accomplishments. When asked how she did it, she responded, “I don’t know what the fuss is about. You gave me the brightest children in the high school and now you are surprised because they succeeded?" When the principal later asked her why she thought these were the brightest children in the school she said, “ Well, their I.Q.s are all over 165.” From her grade book she pulled out the testing results the Principal had given her when she started.
Later that afternoon in his office, the Principal stared at the registry of school locker assignments that Ms. Anna Sumption had given him. She thought is was her student’s IQ scores. The principal, in stunned silence, realized it was only their locker numbers. An assumption about people can make all the difference.
The Nobel Poet Lauriett, Maya Angelou said, “People do the best with what they know, when they know more, they will do better.” Immortal leaders see the worth of their employees, believe in them and celebrate the success of their organizations. Immortal leaders understand that higher performance is an educational process that begins with their faith in their employees and a commitment to taking them from where they are to where they can be.
My Mama taught me what you see is what you get. Then, she taught me what to look for! When you change your focus, you will discover success is on the horizon!
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Randy J. Harvey, Ph.D. is the Toastmasters 2004 World Champion of Public Speaking. He is a human resource professional, lawyer, educator, storyteller, speech coach, and award-winning speaker. Check out Randy's websites, www.randyjharvey.com and www.hrsmarts.com, for articles and products to advance your career.