One for All, All for One
Welcome to the fifty-third edition of “In-Touch”. As always, I would love to continue the conversation so please let me know, in the comments section below, what you think.
Story of the Week: “One for All, All for One”
My uncle, Lakis Michaelides, has always been a captivating storyteller. He recently told me about an event that took place in the 1950s at The English School in Nicosia. It was at a time when his schoolmates — Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Britons, Armenians and others — lived and studied together harmoniously.
One day, one of the students broke the school’s only radio. When the Headmaster found out about it, he ordered all the students to line up in the yard and asked for the person responsible for breaking the radio to step forward.
No-one took a single step.
He then asked for anyone who knew who was responsible to step forward.
Again, no-one moved.
He then told the assembled students that they would all be punished if no-one stepped forward within the next minute.
Sixty seconds of eerie silence passed. Still no movement.
At the end of the minute, to the students’ surprise, instead of chastising them, the Headmaster saluted them and, in an austere voice, said, “This is what solidarity is all about. Gentlemen, I congratulate you all.”
I was impressed by this 70-year-old story of an event that hugely impacted my uncle’s life. It proved to be about more than solidarity and taught him an unforgettable lesson about group cohesiveness.
The Headmaster’s example is one that any leader or manager might wish to emulate. Teamwork and solidarity are among the essential components of every successful team and business and, while covering up a mistake or misdemeanour may not be praiseworthy, the philosophy of “one for all, all for one” is certainly worth cultivating and encouraging in most areas of life and business.
Words of Wisdom
Union and strength
“In union there is strength.” Aesop
A Question to Ponder, dear friend.
“Have you had a similar experience of group solidarity that you can share with us?”
Would love to continue the conversation so let me know, in the comments section below, if you have had a similar experience of group solidarity.
