When comfort is cut down: A lesson in leadership and gratitude

Editor: Last Sunday, a simple decision to cut down a mango tree in my backyard revealed a deeper truth about leadership and the consequences of overlooking and undervaluing people.

The mango tree had long served as a habitat for fowls that roosted there nightly.

Though their early-morning noise was sometimes inconvenient, it was the sound that woke me up and prompted me to prepare for work. Once the tree was cut, the birds were forced to relocate, settling instead on a neighbour’s fence. The disruption was immediate.

This ordinary act reflects what often happens in workplaces today. Decisions are made without fully considering the people affected, particularly employees whose contributions are constant but often overlooked. Like the fowls in the tree, workers can become so familiar that their value is unnoticed until they are displaced or gone.

Leaders must be aware of the needs of their employees and lead with integrity, setting an example through their actions and treatment of others. At the same time, workers must ensure that they continue to learn new skills so that when different opportunities or challenges come their way, they are still able to adapt and remain relevant in a changing job environment.

Yvette Gittens, M.Ed