5 Comments
User's avatar
Jackie Ralston's avatar

Thank you for sharing this, Al.

Expand full comment
Dr. Deborah Hall's avatar

Al,

I hear you that this man

brought about growth in you.

I will never ever

take his approach, however,

as a therapist or as a parent

or as a leader.

If he had tried his dismissive act

on me

I would have pinned his ears back.

"If you are incapable or unwilling

to recognize an employee's hard work

and accomplishments without immediately repeating your What's Next mantra

you have no business

being in a leadership position.

Do I suffer from a sense of entitlement?

No, I have a healthy respect for my hard won achievements.

You show none.

He could change or fire me.

Expand full comment
Al Bellenchia's avatar

Well, 40- some years on, I do take a different approach with my teams. I have seen others manage this way and alienate their people.

And to be fair, there’s some literary license taken in retelling this tale. But I still give him credit for sizing up what I needed, and providing it. 🖖

Expand full comment
Dr. Deborah Hall's avatar

what a thoughtful response, Al

thank you

I am highly interested in the whole question

of what we need from our leaders

Expand full comment
Al Bellenchia's avatar

Thank you. We certainly need more than what we get from many of them. Humanity needs to be at the core of a new leadership paradigm. I am a believer in servant leadership, which is sorely lacking today.

Expand full comment