THE WORN-OUT EXECUTIVE’S MISSING PASSPORT

Businessman and writer Mark Price shares his workplace fables – true stories from the business frontline that can teach us lessons about career success

The Worn-out Executive was returning home from an exhausting trip to the Far East where he had been to sell the merits of his Business School. He knew he shouldn’t have put his passport in the seat pocket of the chair in front of him, but it seemed the easiest thing to do as the air steward handed him back his documents. He was tired, and anxious to get some well-earned sleep on the flight home.

On landing, it wasn’t until the Worn-out Executive reached the immigration self-service machines that he realised his passport wasn’t in his pocket.

Arriving passengers pushed past him as he became more and more agitated, wondering where on earth his passport could be, before remembering that seat pocket on the plane.

He found the airline’s transfer connections desk and explained what had happened.

“I’m sorry there is nothing we can do,” said the efficient desk-person. “As I’ve said already, go to the immigration desk. Show them your driving licence and then go to the service desk in the baggage reclaim hall.”

The Worn-out Executive explained to the service desk what had happened, and the airline employee began to call one department after another.

On his seventh call, he eventually persuaded someone to go to the executive’s seat and retrieve the passport. Half an hour later, the Wornout Executive and his passport were reunited.

The Worn-out Executive was so impressed with the service desk employee’s persistence, kindness and charm that he asked to speak to his manager.

“He’s been made redundant and leaves in four hours,” explained the service desk manager.

“How on earth can any company let someone that good go?”

The manager shrugged.

Moral of the tale: Great service comes from within, whatever the circumstances.

Workplace Fables: 147 True Life

Stories, by Mark Price, is published by Stour Publishing on Oct 5. To order your copy for £8.99 plus p&p, call 0844 871 1514 or visit books. telegraph.co.uk

Share your Workplace Fables and learn more about Mark’s mission to improve workplace happiness at businessnourisher.com

The service desk employee was persistent and charming