There was a multinational company where a senior employee (SE) oversaw all contracts bid, won, and executed for the organization. He had served the organization for many years and his level of loyalty was one of its kind. He had never failed to win contracts for the organization.
A time came to bid and win a big contract that meant a lot to the GMD/CEO, this man did all he could to win this contract for the company, however, something went wrong, just a slight mistake, and the contract was lost to a rival company.
This employee could not bear the loss knowing he had disappointed the organization and his GMD who trusted him so much to win the contract for the organization. He could not summon the courage to look him in the eyes, then he took what he felt was a bold step.
He wrote his resignation letter and started parking his drawers and clearing all his belongings from the office. All cleared and done, as he stood with the letter on his desk, he looked around with tears in his eyes and was about to leave when the GMD came in.
Hello ‘SE’ said the GMD to the employee, what is going on here, why is your office tidied up and why have you not come for a discussion on the contract we have just lost with a pat on his back?
The man was ashamed of himself and said ‘I am so sorry that I have failed this organization due to a minor error that could have been avoided, I decided to leave for someone else to continue from where I stopped. I will continue my career elsewhere if possible.
Are you out of your mind? said the GMD, that we lost the contract does not mean it is the end of the world; we win some we lose some which is the reality in business.
Look here man, we can always have more contracts to win in the future, that you failed now does not mean you will continue to fail, we are humans, not perfect, and bound to make mistakes. We have lost the contract to a rival company, yes, but I cannot afford to lose you too to another rival company. Now you know better how ‘Not’ to do it, I am sure and have the trust in you that we will achieve more.
Please unpack and settle back in, we have a lot to do now, then he left. SE could not believe this, tears started rushing down his eyes he had underestimated how the GMD trusted him.
The next time he worked so hard that he was able to achieve in double fold far better than what was lost, and the GMD said, ‘I have always trusted you, I am glad I did not let you go when you wanted to.
SE was promoted and his success story in the organization continued.
Lessons:
Ø Mistakes are bound to happen at some point in life, we are humans and not perfect
Ø Value your loyal employees and don’t make the mistake of losing them to competition
Ø There are always ups and downs in life and businesses
Ø What has always been good that turned bad today does not mean the end.
Ø Loyal employees are hard to come by; value them once identified.
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