subject: Leadership lesson: Tolerance is paramount [print this page] Leadership lesson: Tolerance is paramount
Today, I used one of the age-old techniques to sort out differences between two of my teammates. This technique has and is being used by all the great leaders of our time. It's nothing but the art of story telling.
Let me explain. Today, my supervisor came rushing to me complaining about a fellow worker who defied him. After hearing him out, I thought it best to hear it straight from the horse's mouth. So I called for the defiant' gentleman, and asked him about why he had displayed that attitude. He replied that his response was in retaliation to the authoritative style of management. He didn't like being ordered around (who does?) and he blew his lid, and gave him the F word.
Then I talk to the victim (the supervisor), and I found out that he had thrown his weight around because it was not the first time that it had happened. He had a point, but then I reminded him that he being in a leadership position couldn't afford to lower his threshold for tolerance. Tolerance is an important weapon in the armory of a leader. Then I recited this real-life story.
Buddha was known to display a great deal of tolerance and could not be swayed into losing his cool. One gentleman apparently decided to test it. He came up to Buddha and started insulting him ceaselessly in the hope that Buddha would snap. But nothing happened. After he was done with the barrage, Buddha stood up and asked him, "Can you ask one question?' "Yes", came the reply. Buddha said, "If you were to give a gift to someone and that person does not take it, then who does the gift belong to?" "Me", came the answer. "Likewise, I don't take what you gave me", suggested Buddha. The man tucked his tail between his legs and slipped out.
Upon hearing this, the supervisor felt a sense of calmness because now he had the choice. If he refuses to accept the S*&#, then it remains with the other.
Remember the Buddha incident, the next time someone hurls unpleasantries at you. You retain the choice, always!
