Category: Leadership Example
Overview: Someone Who Made a Difference
By: Cynthia Kyriazis, Chief Experience Officer, The Culture Think Tank
I really enjoy watching the program Sunday Morning on CBS. I think they do a great job of telling the story they want their viewers to see. And then having their viewers learn from it. This came to mind with the most recent episode I watched.
This particular story was about a man whose original career was brought to an end after miraculously surviving a fall from a great height. That’s when he decided to change jobs. The interview went something like this.
How many kids do you have? About 200.
That seems like an awful lot! How can that be? Oh, I’m a bus driver. I don’t really have any kids of my own. Just my bus kids.
When did you decide to become a school bus driver? 40 years ago. I’m retired now though.
So some of these kids are grown now? Oh yes…and have kids of their own, but they still invite me to see them and they visit me too.
The journalist then went on to interview some of these kids who now have kids of their own. And here’s what they said about their bus driver.
He’s so kind.
Oh, my kids know all about him. They’ve met him. They know about love and respect.
I learned so much from him…like making sure you love and respect everyone.
I don’t always remember a teacher’s name, but I will always remember Mr. X. Because he’s the one who taught all of us to show everyone love and respect.
Lesson learned…for all of us and not just the kids. We may not always love the people who work with us or those who work for us, but we can certainly show respect. And this is what most of today’s workforce is asking from their leaders, supervisors and colleagues.
Maybe we should all just take a lesson from this bus driver’s legacy. Lesson well worth it.
Cynthia Kyriazis is the Chief Experience Officer for The Culture Think Tank. Her experience includes executive coaching, consulting, and training.
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