At Jobacle, we always work hard to provide the very best we can when it comes to career advice with an edge. Because we are the folks in the cubes of the world, doing the real work and getting all the important stuff done, it can appear that we’re, well, anti-management. We’re not, but we do pride ourselves on saying, with humor and insight, what needs to be said.
So, in the best possible spirit, we commend Michael Hollowell, the store manager of the Lowes in North Carolina, whose leadership during a recent tornado saved the lives of the over one hundred people in the store at the time. As the manager, Michael knew the stores’ emergency plan, and once he saw the tornado roaring towards his store, he immediately took action. He mobilized his assistant managers and succeeded in almost instantly herding all staff and customers to the rear of the store, into a concrete-reinforced area. While Michael was doing this, the entire roof of the free standing store was peeled back, and the large store was essentially destroyed. He and his management team worked to calm the almost hysterical crowd, and as a result there were no fatalities, not even any injuries.
Yet, Michael disclaimed any credit for the wonderful work he did in responding to a life-threatening emergency. Rather, he graciously gave credit to his staff, stating that it was a team effort that really saved the day.
Leadership, clear thinking and modesty…Michael, where have you been all our lives?
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