Many, many years ago, I was promoted to head a branch. My first year leading the team of some 12 odd was not too bad. The people actually loved me. I remember one Valentine’s Day they surprised me with a cake. I was moved to tears.
Then as my role progressed, the business didn’t. The stress got into me, I supposed. I started screaming at people. And one day one of them decided to write an anonymous email to my regional VP about my poor leadership including how I use profanity at the workplace to intimidate people. I was really angry that I teared again.
How ungrateful & cowardly I thought to myself. I also thought that was it, my career as a leader was over for I was demoted too (though voluntarily). However on the contrary, this pivotal mistake helped my career heaps.
Years later, I found out who sent that anonymous email. For the longest time I was holding a grudge against her. Then I realized too on the contrary instead of being angry with her, I should be grateful.
For that whole experience was truly a humbling one. That tight slap on my face that I am not as good as I think I am. A wake-up call that I need to be better & not go ape crazy.
Bimbo
