To serve and be served

Our school just hosted a welcome back BBQ for the staff at lunchtime today and got to take a peek at the kind of leaders the school have.

I was supposed to be on desk duty for the duration of the BBQ but when our library manager knew that I was going to miss it on account of my shift and even if my colleagues promised to get some food for me, she voluntarily took over my roster so I can attend the BBQ. I thought it was sweet of her because as far as my experience goes, none of my bosses would have done the same for me. They'd get food for me, yes, but not to the extent of relieving me of my duties just so I can have a good time.

Also, the idea of a welcome back lunch was foreign to me coz back in the Philippines administrators couldn't care less to welcome their employees back from the holidays after a perfunctory greeting for the new year and would only be too happy to see them go back to the nitty gritty of work.

At the BBQ, I saw some of the school's top brass mingling with the staff. Nothing unusual there until I saw one of the directors who heads our national office with an apron on and grilling sausages and burgers apparently enjoying what he's doing. And all I could think of was "WOW!". A couple of minutes later, I saw him again carrying a box of sausages to be grilled. And I thought in the Philippines, officers in his position won't do such a thing in front of subordinates especially wearing a shirt and a necktie.

But that's not the end of it. I actually saw our school's CEO get a pack of disposable plates and place it on the table for the latecomers. I know it's such a small gesture but again I've never seen a president or chairman in the schools/companies I've worked for in the Philippines who would bother about small things such as plates for staff because they're all seated in the presidential table with hordes of waiters attending to them.

These guys have earned my admiration. Certainly Filipino managers can learn a thing or two from this post.