Article on Leadership Skills:
The article below (and any other article specified on this website) is available for use in your organization’s newsletter or for printed training materials. All we ask is that you include the following acknowledgment with each article you use from this site: Little Things Mean AlotA few years ago, I had the privilege of hearing a presentation by Mildred Ramsey, the retired textile worker from South Carolina turned management consultant. Mrs. Ramsey spent her entire career as a worker in a textile mill without serving a day as a supervisor. Late in her work-life she was instrumental in keeping the union out of her facility and gained national prominence for doing so. This led to a second career as a speaker and advisor to leaders everywhere about how they can engender the same kind of loyalty in their employees that she showed her employer.I’m telling you this today because I want to share a wonderful story that Mildred Ramsey told when I heard her speak. I think there’s a lesson in this story for each and every leader. “Was It Ricky or Was It Stevie?" Mrs. Ramsey was a working mother, and when her boys were little she often had to stay home with them when they were sick. (Many of us can relate to this.) She talked about one specific time when she had to call in and leave a message for her fairly new boss that she would not be at work because one of her boys was sick. When she came back to work next day, he sought her out, and she apologized for having to miss work. Her boss said, “It’s okay, Mildred. Which one of your boys was sick? Was it Ricky or Stevie? Is he better now?” More than 30 years after this incident, Mrs. Ramsey still remembered the interest and kindness shown by her young boss. She hadn’t realized he even knew the names of her children. Not only did he know their names, he was concerned about which one was sick! It was this simple incident and many others like it which proved to her that her management truly cared about its workers. Years later, she sided with management against the union organizers, even though the union presence would almost certainly have meant higher wages and better working conditions. Important note: it’s not the money. How About YOUR Employees? Would your employees be that loyal to you? If not, why wouldn’t they? Certainly there are company policies and management decisions that are not under your control. Such management actions may negatively impact people’s perception of the organization and thereby reflect on you. But you are not totally off the hook! Within your own unit or department, you can build a high degree of loyalty from your employees. Every single day, in simple interactions, notice those things that are important to them. Show interest. Treat them the way you would treat a guest in your home. If they have children, know their names, their ages, and what their interests are. Ask about them by name. If your employee has a special hobby, show interest by asking about it. It’s the simple things employees remember. It is the things that are almost insignificant to you that they remember—good AND bad! Did you brusquely cut them off? Or did you ask how Jennifer’s (their daughter’s) soccer game went? Either way, they will remember! Return to List of Free Articles on Leadership Skills
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