Recently a trip to the grocery store provided a simple but amazingly true lesson in leadership. A young cashier was troubled by the process to ring up a gift card I was purchasing. She was confused and seemingly fumbled over the cash register rather than refusing to call for manager assistance. That is when the bag boy stepped in to help.
Without making a mockery of her oversight, the bag boy gently corrected her and provided guidance about the right process to follow. Not moving from his end-of-bagging-line position, he walked her verbally through the steps of processing the sale. He smiled to himself, almost pleased that he could do it. Then without missing a beat he said aloud “maybe I should be the cashier one day.” And one day he shall!
With his helpful spirit and can-do mentality, he affirmed in that moment his ability to lead without usurping leadership. He took a moment to gently show guidance and teach from what he had apparently observed about the cash register process time and again.
In the moments that I finished my transaction with the cashier, she thanked the bag boy for his assistance. On the inside I smiled knowing that he would find his way into the cashier position and even the store manager position or better one day. It was not because he was clamoring to get into the cashier role. On the contrary, it was how he took a moment to be an everyday leader taking the time to help someone else.
Dawn McCoy, author of Leadership Building Blocks: An Insider’s Guide to Success
