As a young teen I was facscinated by a movie, starring Robert Redford, called ‘Brubaker’. In essence a new prison governor enters the facility as an inmate to really understand what is wrong with the place. Less than a week in, the situation is so dire that he needs to assert his authetic self to start to make change. I always thought was a clever way to understand how something really works.
During COVID-19 I chose to work in a minimum pay role within a food business. I saw it as an opportunity to make more of some time that appeared in my weeks due to the economic challenges that existed, as well as a way to step out of my comfort zone and learn some stuff at a grass roots level.
I’ve written a separate piece about 7 ways to get the best out of your staff but for me the biggest learning was these 3 things:
- When no-one knows your background, or Linked In profile, you are as good as your attitude, what you are willing to do to support the end goal or make the lives of others easier. Titles, experience etc mean nothing.
- In environments of mixed age and ethnicity, where often English is not a first language, ‘a smile is still the shortest distance between 2 people’.
- It’s easier to admit you don’t know, repeatedly seek clarity, or ask for help than keep struggling on.
I know I will see these people in other environments and I hope they remember me as the person they met, rather than the person they perceive me to be.
