Kick Me!

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This story recounts a time when Grant Kain, Plant Manager of Armstrong Machine Works, was having a bad day.  It all started one early morning when Grant was talking with a machinist who had just produced some parts of bad quality.

"How could you run so many pieces of bad quality? Why didn't you catch the first couple of pieces?"

"It's not my fault Grant; we're really busy."

Grant felt his anger growing and quietly he counted to himself 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10.  Then he spoke.  "Remember, you are to practice self-management and inspect your own quality."

"You're right Grant; I'll do a better job next time."

The morning had grown only a few hours older when Grant found himself talking to another machinist about bad quality.  "Didn't you see the metal shavings in the casting?"

"No sir, I don't know how I could have missed it, maybe because we're so busy."

Again, Grant could feel his anger growing so he quietly counted to himself 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10.  "You have time to clean the metal shavings out of a casting!  It only takes a minute."  Calmly, Grant walked away.

Only a few minutes had passed and, just as Grant was to exit Plant One, a foreman stopped him.  "Grant, one of the machinists just crashed one of our dies.  The machine is going to be down for at least a couple of days."  Grant slowly shook his head then walked away in disgust.  As Grant exited the building, he saw a metal bucket and without thinking he gave it a swift kick in anger.  The bucket went rattling down the parking lot-clunk, clunk, clunk, clunk, clunk, clunk.

The morning was almost over when Grant found himself returning the Plant One.  As he approached the door which he had earlier left in anger, he noticed the bucket placed back in its proper place.  On the bucket was a happy face with the words...'kick me'.  Grant began to count to himself again 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10.

The Moral of the Story

1. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10.  "When angry, count to ten before taking action; when very angry-100."  Thomas Jefferson.  Both Thomas Jefferson and Grant Kain know not to take action when angry.  Grant was not angry with the people who put the bucket back making fun of him, but angry with himself.  Grant knew that as a leader he should not lose his temper.  To keep self-control he would count to ten before speaking.  Unfortunately, Grant failed to count to ten and somebody had seen him kick the bucket.
2. Grant Kain tells the best stories.  Grant's story ends when he tells me "I left the bucket at the door with the happy face and words ‘kick me' to help remind me to not lose my temper".  This bucket has been in the same place outside the tool room door for several years as a constant reminder.  Now that you have read this story, all of us, not just leaders, will remember to keep our temper when we see Grant's bucket.  You could make decisions for the wrong reasons, such as punishment or to take revenge on another.
3. Now, what if a subordinate becomes angry?  If you are the leader let them vent their anger-even towards you.  Let them talk, really try and listen to what they are saying.  You as the leader must remain calm.  If all your efforts fail in calming down your subordinate, then send them home so they have time to think about what they said.  The next day the person will normally apologize for their behavior.  They are now calm and ready to solve the problem.

"Acting in anger is like putting to sea in a storm." 
Benjamin Franklin

©2002 Chief Storytelling Officer