It’s not a right, It’s a privilege
Azeez Amida
Turnaround CEO | Growth Expert #TheGrowthpreneur | Author, #EPE Principle | Founder, Azeez Amida Foundation
I deserve it. I worked hard for it. This used to be me.
I thought because I worked longer hours than most people I know, because I put my all into everything I did, I deserved to be where I was. I would walk around with high shoulders and expect people to listen to me. This did not only affect the way I treated people, but it also shaped how I expected leaders to treat me. I would go into conflict without regard for feelings. If it was about the job, only results mattered. The team was successful. The achievements were raining in, but it was at a cost far too high. Team turnover was the highest in the organization, especially with newer people. I was wrong by many miles.
Many years ago, I ran into a conflict that would change my orientation forever. I had been in a heated conversation with the CEO then and we were approaching the point of total breakdown. My delusion that I deserved to be in that position pushed me to take a stance against him on a matter that a simple apology would have resolved. One day, a senior colleague called to ask me two questions that changed everything:
1)?????Do you think you are the only one in this world that would do this job at this level?
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2)?????If he (the CEO) decided to pull the plug, do you think the company would die?
Those two questions did not only hit me in the face but also made me start looking at my entire career from a different angle. Yes, I was delivering value, but I wasn’t there because I was the only one who could do the job, I was there because I was given a chance to be there. Don’t get me wrong, this is not to say we are dispensable as professionals, it is merely to say that our position in life imposes a sense of responsibility, and we must walk in the understanding that we are as fragile as we are strong.
You may deserve to be where you are, but it doesn’t make you the only one who is able or willing to be there. Always maintain a sense of humility and responsibility and you will be amazed how much impact this will have on you.
As always, I'd like to read your thoughts on this. Do share and let’s take this conversation further, even as we help each other grow.
Change Management |Technology Sales | Business Development Professional |
1 年In our careers there seems to be one moment , one individual , one experience that sparks up new ideologies within the work place. Yes! You deserved the Position you held! Yes! you delivered Value! I truly liked the way you put it - You were there because you were given the chance to be there. My take out from this piece - Be Humble, even as we achieve milestones.
Portfolio & Fund Management Il Sustainable Finance & Investment II Investment Research lI Insurance Services lI Financial Advisory lI Risk Management Il Accounts
2 年Amidaaaa.....It's great seeing you wrote this!!! I could relate wella with all these. We all acknowledged your intelligence and smartness but many of us couldn't come to terms with your "pride"! You dropped bombs every time and could argue till thy kingdom come (You had reasons for all outcomes ??????)! The fact that you thought you were better than all of us and exhibited such in attitude made you draw more adversaries/foes than friends even though we couldn't dispute that your IQ was very high! But then, there was a sort of innocence in you at the same time; "Olofo la won people yen jare" - Meaning: Those people are unserious; they "injured" my guy in one way or the other ??????! All in all, the turning point was inspirational. Like the saying "When you grow up, you would understand what adulthood is all about". Truly, nothing in life is a right; it's all privileges, even the life we breathe! Thank you for the lesson! Robert, Ronke, Chigozie, Keripe,
Public Relations Consultant | Trained Journalist | 2023 PR Personality of The Year | 2022 Most Influential People of African Descent | TEDx Speaker | President, LCAN | Board Member, PRCA
2 年Love the vulnerability. Always great to introspect. thank you for sharing
Manager, Accounts Receivable at IHS Towers
2 年Thank you for this read up. Blunt and true. Looking forward to the next one.
Associate Director, Energy Management @ IHS Towers | MBA, Strategy and Leadership
2 年Lesson well learnt and shared. I go around with the belief that “if I can do it, any other human can do it as well and even better, after all, I am only human as every other person and got to learn the skill too”. Thanks again for sharing the insightful thought.