Alexander the Great, the Greek king, once led his troops across a hot, arid desert. After nearly two weeks of marching, he and his soldiers were near death from thirst, yet Alexander pushed ahead.
In the noonday sun, two of his scouts brought what little water they were able to find. It barely filled a cup. Alexander’s troops were shocked with he poured the water into the burning sand.
The king said, “It is of no use for one to drink when many thirst.”
Treating those who report to you as partners or associates will not work if it’s only a scheme of a strategy. It must be a genuine heart-felt expression.
When we truly believe in the potential of people, they rarely disappoint us. That is one of the messages of Max DePree, in his perceptive book, “Leadership is an Art.” He recommends becoming “abandoned to the strength of others — of admitting that we cannot know or do everything.”
Starting today, vow that you will treat your associates as partners, not subordinates.
