Apr
29
I heard Norman Drummond, founder of the Columba 1400 International Leadership Centre, talk about how his vision for such a facility was created. Norman is a compelling and entertaining storyteller! He says that when he was a young man training to be a lawyer he was faced by a young woman client with her baby in her arms coming to him to arrange for her divorce. At this point he decided that he was not cut out to be providing support “at the point of repair” and would prefer to work in the area of need.
Most of us know or have met someone who at some point has been in the need of “repair” whether amongst family and friends or work colleagues. Was there anything we ourselves might have done to support them when they needed it? I thought about situations that have arisen in my working life and I know there are a couple along the way where I might have offered a hand of support but possibly took the “it’s not really my business” approach and hoped that someone else would intervene. That does not make me feel good now.
In a wider context here in the UK organisations have a responsibility to provide a safe working environment for employees - both physically and mentally. To be truly effective this needs colleagues and co-workers to be vigilant in spotting when someone has a “need” which if it is not dealt with could become serious.
The Columba1400 programme encourages participants to explore their own personal leadership. Organisations are only as good as the individuals within them - and encouraging those people to show leadership towards caring for and supporting colleagues surely can only make that organisation stronger.
