The ship at the shore will always be ‘SAFE’! Let us not be that ‘ship’
Robert was the manager of a multinational clothing company based in France and had been recently promoted to the position of a general manager.
He was in charge of marketing and sales for the entire region of South East Asia. As a manager he had consistently succeeded in achieving his targets or budgets which is why he had been given the esteemed promotion.
His selling skills were excellent and so was his sense of leadership. Having said this his new role was broader and deeper and required tremendous amount of courage and foresight.
He had more countries and cities to sell and market the products. Unfortunately, after about six weeks there was an unpleasant surprise for the CEO of the company.
Through all the six weeks Robert and his team had not made any kind of positive forays or impact in regards to the sale and marketing of their company’s products in those regions.
It was not as though they had not ventured at all, into those regions, but their efforts seemed to lack passion and penetration.
It was the quarterly meeting and that is when the CEO of the company, Mr James had a few interesting things to say to Robert and his team.
“Dear Robert, after having seen the sales reports I have to admit I am disappointed and for good reason. As a general manager and with your team of managers and other sales executives I was expecting all of you to impact the Asian region positively.
However, as I see from the reports you have not even accomplished 40 percent of my expectations. You haven’t established connections and contacts with countries like Singapore or Malaysia or Thailand in the way that was expected; and these are places that have a great potential.
Why did this happen?” he asked, looking towards Robert, who seemed to be without answers.
The CEO then, looked at the entire team and continued to share his observations. “You and your team has been successful in the past and that is something I have been impressed with and which is also the reason for promoting you to the position of a general manager.
Having said this, apart from the wonderful leadership qualities you possess, there is one aspect of leadership which is not actually a quality but a state of awareness and that, which will truly enhance your capabilities as a leader for the coming future.
This state of awareness is known as, ‘the ship at the shore will always be safe’!” Hearing this statement, not only Robert but most of the people in that room were puzzled and perplexed.
“Sir, I really am unable to understand what this statement means” Robert reacted spontaneously. James replied with a half-smile, “If you try and go deeper into the statement you will find a positive meaning.
When I said that the ship at the shore will always be safe, there is a connected question to it.
The question is; is the true nature of the ship to be at the shore and remain safe…or, is its nature to take the dive into the ocean and, despite the big waves and storms, sail through the ocean towards its destination?
Well, Robert, I am sure will agree with me that the ship’s fundamental nature and purpose is to fearlessly traverse the oceans and not remain at the shore feeling safe.
Till a few months ago you and your team were conducting sales and marketing for France and it was a comfortable journey for all of you. But then, things changed especially after you became the general manager. You were empowered with more oceans to sail.
These ‘oceans’ were beyond
France. You were in a wonderful ‘comfort zone’ till the time you got the promotion and with it, the new regions in South East Asia.
However, you preferred to remain safe on the metaphorical shores of France, when in reality, you should have taken the dive into the Asian markets with a lot more vigor, passion and perseverance.
Being safe at the shore is not something a leader must feel. He or she must have the attitude of fearlessness and fortitude to conquer the apprehensions and fears of failure and jump into the ocean to vibrantly sail towards new destinations of success.
Dear Robert, I am sharing all this with you because I still believe in you and your capabilities along with your team management techniques.
You are the captain of your ship and so, take your inspired and competent sailors and sail to the Asian regions with the highest levels of passion and determination without the fear of failing.”
These words from the CEO, Mr. James were an eye-opener for not only Robert but for each and every person seated in that room.
I hope that his words will also become an important and refreshing eye-opener for all of you, my readers, as well!
Being safe at the shore is not something a leader must feel. He or she must have the attitude of fearlessness and fortitude to conquer the apprehensions and fears of failure and jump into the ocean to vibrantly sail towards new destinations of success.