I mentioned in my last post the many high points from my time spent at the ERE Social Recruiting Summit in NY. I also mentioned the one low point of my trip - a delayed train turning my 3 hour commute into a 6 1/2 hour commute. The train was scheduled to leave NY at 6:20 and at 6:25 when we were still sitting in the station I should have known something was not right. At about 6:29 when the train started to move I relaxed a little and then not 60 second later I heard, "Stop the train, stop the train, STOP THE TRAIN" through the conductor's walkie talkie and I knew it was going to be a long night.
Apparently there was a signal problem on the track but we were told we would be on our way, "momentarily." I don't know about you, but momentarily to me means 10 - 15 minutes tops. Maybe 20 minutes. After about 45 minutes and hearing for about the 15th time our conductor announced we would be "on our way momentarily" we realized we were stuck without escape and it was time to hit the cafe car. Have you ever been on a delayed train? It's not fun. Periodically our conductors would walk through the train asking for patience and communicating the situation as best they could. Kudos to them for their patience and smiles. After about 2 hours, as one member of the track crew clanked through the isle he was bombarded with the question we all had but no one could answer, "When would we be on our way?"
With a smile on his face he said, "Don't know - I'm not the leader, I'm just a follower."
Ooops.
Probably not the best thing to say on a crowded delayed train and I'm sure it was a good thing his supervisor was not in ear shot.
I wondered if he really did feel like "just a follower" and why he didn't want to be a leader. Just because you are not the boss does not mean you can't be a leader.
This is something I've heard over and over since joining Sodexo. Sodexo's employees focus their talents and expertise on making every day a better day for clients, their customers and for each other in order to be the leader in integrated food service and facilities management. It says that right on our the home page of our web site. Our employees are our biggest asset, so we strive to make working for Sodexo a great experience for each employee. It says that on our web site too and Sodexo fulfills this promise to it's employees. To help our employee be leaders we offer the benefit of leadership training through Sodexo University. Sodexo University offers diverse learning opportunities specially designed to help employees succeed and grow, including a program called "Leading the Sodexo Way." This program includes nine leadership development courses that reinforce core competencies needed by Sodexo managers and other professionals like, providing constructive feedback, addressing emotions at work, speaking to influence others, etc.
Hmmm... "speaking to influence others" might have been a good course for Mister "I'm just a follower." Don't you think?
3 comments:
I’d weakness to remember that too!
Interesting perspective on his comment. I think I'll share this with a few of the young people I work with.
6 hours on the train?! you must have been livid - and then to have someone walk through and have answers?
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