Arliss: The Leadership Lesson

            I have spent most of my adult life trying to make and find meaning in the role of a mid-level factory manager. Two years ago, after an extended period of poor health and other fortunately unfortunate events (future article), I found myself near the bottom of Maslow’s pyramid. Gone were the trappings of what I thought I had become. No desk and nameplate, no parking spot, no guaranteed audience of paid supporters. Now I passed my time working for a company where I personally delivered parts to the factory floors of several aircraft part manufacturers here in Wichita. Many of my customers were former workmates, bosses, and employees. A little awkward.

When I started my delivery job, I knew immediately that there would be a choice to make if I was going to be successful. In this case success meant satisfying my customers of course, but more importantly it meant to grow personally and not be defeated by the change of status. Would I walk with my shoulders slumped, embarrassed, and bitter? What if I took a different tack? I could stand up straight, walk with a purpose, and smile. I chose the latter and it has made the difference in my life.

Inspiration? It literally came from holding a vision in my mind of a man I had not seen in over 30 years! I worked with him when I was an assembly mechanic at Boeing. I was in my thirties and he was probably my age now, early sixties. He amazed me then with his positive attitude, his professionalism, and his sense of urgency! Everyone thought he was great! His job was to chase parts, supplies, and whatever else was deemed important for the “big boss”. He was to make sure everyone in the factory had what they needed when they needed it. Folks that did his job were called go-fer, or runner.

The man's name was Arliss. He had the appearance of a retired executive. He combed his hair neatly, wore dress slacks, nice shirts, and polished shoes to work. He spoke in a purposeful way with maturity, intelligence, and humor. He almost always delivered what you needed when you needed it and he did it with pride. He was so good at his job, he seemed to be more important than his title indicated. Make sense?

I liked the guy a lot. We all did. That’s all though. I really didn’t spend a lot of time thinking about him or his job back then. At the time I certainly had no idea this man was making an impression that would last for 30 years. Isn’t that odd?Arliss became for me a lesson in a lesson wrapped in a lesson. His was a minor role in my life. Yet,when I needed a true leadership and life lesson, Arliss reached through time and showed me how to walk. He showed me how to act, how to do a job (any job) professionally with a smile, pride and purpose. Funny. Life as some folks say, is really not all that complicated.

What you do today someone else is likely watching and listening. Your words and actions need not be profound, yet they may play back in the minds of others years into the future. After you are gone your vision, your voice, your character or lack thereof lives on. 

New glasses

You know, it is amazing how dirty your glasses can become over 30 years. Wipe them off! Also, amazing—the packages life’s best lessons tend to arrive in. Yes, for years and years I had been fixated on becoming a better leader. I had worked and worked to understand the secrets. I was determined that I would use my position to bring about change. I read and read, took classes, and experimented. I was nearly worshipping at the feet of the great business and self-improvement, lean manufacturing, and leadership coaches of the 90’s and early 2000’s.

I think back about all the heavy breathers (upper managers) I have known in my career and most of them left no physical trace. People don’t even seem to know who they are when you mention their name. If you want to make a lasting difference, try this--be nice to someone. Serve your customers, employees, friends and acquaintances with enthusiasm, urgency and pride. The career you have worked so hard on, the big enchilada, will likely be surpassed by a smile and service you give today or gave 10 years ago.