Alan Humphries - FED Consultant

Wilf is a site postman. He delivers the mail to all departments every morning on a large HQ and manufacturing site. And he does so with a smile and a greeting that cheers everyone up – every morning without exception. At a recent company dinner – to the delight of everyone – Wilf received the company award for leadership, for leading for ‘sunshine’. Wilf more surprised and delighted than anyone accepted the award with a huge smile just like he did every day. The whole audience stood and applauded loudly.

This story had me thinking about the question: ‘What are you leading for’ and that the best way to do this is through our behaviour – every day and in all that we do. It is not often, however that we recognise these every day ways of leading for something however small or big. And of course it is often the small things that we do that make a big difference, in just the way that Wilf made a big difference to everyone’s day.

So take some time this week to notice the small ways in which people make a big difference around you, and too what it is that you are leading for and how this shows up in your behaviour – every day.

By Alan Humphries, FED consultant and coach