Tough Love in the Workplace

John Smithman,
founder of Champions in the Workplace™

The announcement: a big new contract!

George, general manager of a Canadian plastics plant, asked the employees to gather for some good news. It was supposed to be a happy occasion; but one of the employees – Steven – did his part to dampen the event. Slouching in his seat with one arm draped around the back of his chair, he said, "I suppose now we'll get to use the executive washroom, eh?"

Steven was known as a rabble rouser at the plant: a general "putz." You could count on his negative attitude and putdowns of management.

Later, at the General Manager’s Meeting

After the meeting, the general manager summoned Steven to his office.

"I suppose you're gonna fire me!?" Steven said belligerently.

George responded, "You think you're being funny and smart with your sarcastic remarks; but you’re not smart. Your friends aren't laughing with you, they are laughing at you. Yeah I could fire you; but you'd just go to another company and get fired there too in time; and the cycle continues; or you could break this cycle right now! With your intelligence, skill, and courage aimed at positive expression, you could become something of value: a lead hand in a couple of months; maybe even plant foreman in a couple of years! But you have to decide to change your focus… Now, get out of my office!"

The Rest of the Story

It happened. A few months later, the general manager noticed that Steven was one of the volunteers for a weekend job that was optional. In a few months, he became a lead hand and eventually he did become plant foreman.

The Real Story

Years later, after he’d left the company, George was invited back to a company Christmas Party for employees and their families. A lady came up to him and said, "Sir, you don’t know me, but I am Steven's wife. And I just wanted to thank you for not firing Steven that day. He is now a volunteer fireman in our community, a loving father to our two boys, and a good husband to me. Thank you."

Wow! A volunteer fireman; two loved children; and grateful wife. Most managers have no idea of the wide-ranging impact they have when they properly manage people at work.

As told to me by George P. in 2005.

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