Leadership Skills

Sometimes leadership skills can be learned from unexpected places and situations. Most of the single moms I know have developed their leadership skills during one of the lowest points in their lives. A number of them actually did not know that they can develop beyond being home makers.  Their situation pushed them to evaluate their innate abilities and develop their strengths. These moms who used to wipe faces and floors are now leaders in big corporations.  Some have put up their own small companies and can definitely be called excellent leaders in their own right. They’ve raised their kids alone providing for their kids’ emotional, financial and spiritual needs.

Once upon a time, there was a CEO (Chief Executive Officer) who asked his managers to visit a mental hospital for their leadership training. As expected, a number of his managers grumbled. They felt humiliated that their training would be done, of all places, in a mental hospital. They expected to go to a plush event place like a 5 star hotel or fly to a private resort for their training. They were skeptical that they will learn anything in the mental hospital environment. (Lesson number 1 – Leaders must have an open mind. There are nuggets of wisdom and ideas all around us; we just need to have an open mind to spot these ideas. Once spotted, a leader must have the courage to grab these ideas and use them.)

A kind security staff, Bill, showed them around. He showed the areas where the patients have their regular morning exercises, the cafeteria where some of the less problematic patients can personally go to eat, the treatment room, the entertainment room and the testing room. As they were passing the entertainment room, the managers heard shouts. The patients were shouting “13! 13! 13!” Curiously, one of the managers peeped into a hole. A patient poked his eye and the patients started shouting “14! 14! 14!”  (Lesson number 2 - Leaders must be curious to succeed. Curiously drives a leader to try a venture.  However, a leader must be prepared to accept failures and find humor in these failures.  Every failure is an opportunity to learn.)

After the tour was completed, one manager asked Bill, “Are they all sick and crazy loonies in here then?” Smart Bill replied, “Only the ones who fail the test.” “And what is the test?” asked the manager. Bill replied, “Remember the testing room? I showed you only the equipment that we use but I forgot to show you the final testing equipment which is a very simple tool but has never failed in spotting the sick and crazy loonies. In the final test, we show them a bath filled with water, a large bucket, a large cup and a spoon. We then ask them what the quickest way to empty the water in the bath would be.” The manager said, “What? That is quite simple. The ‘normal one’ knows it’s the bucket, right?” Bill smilingly replied, “No. Actually the normal ones say pull out the plug. Should I see if there is a bed free for you?” (Lesson number 3 – Leaders must go beyond the obvious especially when solving problems.  Don’t rely on the obvious or available tools; be creative in solving problems.)