Being "Other" FocusedIn Wall Street Journal, Franklin Lavin, U.S. Ambassabor to Singapore wrote Manager's Journal column about some of things he learned from late President Reagan while working on his staff.
******** PLEASE NOTE ************
If you are thinking about moving on from this article because of your feelings about politics of President Reagan, please don't. The lesson I am about to share isn't about politics or partisan-ship, or any of those things.
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It is about caring.
About being focused on others.
It is a lesson for all leaders.
Lavin shares a story about an appearance President was making at an Alabama school for handicapped children. The event was going super well, until one of children with a severe speech impediment asked a question of President. No one in audience could understand and room became tense. The President asked him to repeat question, and energy in room was further dampened. Again, no one understood.
Here is how Lavin tells what happened next, "The teachers froze. What was to have been an upbeat day was turning into a disaster... Reagan to rescue. 'I'm sorry' he said with a smile, 'but you know I've got this hearing aid in my ear. Every once in awhile darn thing just conks out on me. And it's just gone dead. Sorry to put you through this again, but I'm going to ask one of my staff people to go over to you so you can tell them directly what your question is. Then he can pass it back to me.'"