This is one of my favourite stories to share in my Live sessions.
I once had a staff member who was consistently late to work – not by 5-10 minutes, but more like 45-60 minutes late. One day, I asked her why she arrived so late each day, especially since she didn’t live far from the office.
She explained that she woke up every morning at 5.00am to perform a ritual prayer, after which she would go back to sleep. On most days, she found it difficult to wake up again in time for work.
Well, I didn’t want to stand in her way to be closer to God, so I decided to shift her working hours, allowing her to start an hour later and clock out an hour later, as our business allowed for this flexibility. To ensure transparency and avoid any office rumours, we announced the adjusted hours to the team, explaining clearly why. Nobody objected (thank God!).
From that day forward, she was on time most of the time.
A little empathy and clear communication can go a long way. By taking a moment to understand the situation, we found a solution that worked both for her and the company. She felt respected and valued, and we maintained productivity of our team.
Sometimes, the best leadership comes down to simply listening and adapting. So, the next time you’re faced with a similar situation, consider asking, “How can I make this work for both of us?”
xoxoxo, AuntyHR
