“Remember that the chair you are sitting on is like a barber’s chair ...”
A bit confused by what was said and why, Mohammad Al Gergawi then in his late twenties asked: “What do you mean a barber’s chair.”
When you go to the barber you won’t sit on a chair for long — somebody else comes along, it’s a rotation. You sit here now, and then he will, followed by someone else. It is a temporary seat, implying strongly that your position is also temporary.
“So while you’re sitting on that chair (a mid-level job in the Department of Economic Development as the director of business registration), try to be as good to people and help people as much as possible. You shouldn’t let any job go to your head. This is a barber’s chair and you don’t need to have a desk.”
This simple bit of advice sobered Gergawi and stuck with him. So, he removed that desk and started to operate without one. Getting rid of his desk meant that Gergawi started working with people where they were. He helped customers find the proper forms. Many of the elderly had never learnt to read or write, so he helped them fill out the forms and escorted them to the proper counter.
Anyone who arrived looking confused, he helped.
But he was a director ... He didn’t need to do this.
A few years later, Gergawi was offered a job — a new “barber” seat — in the private sector nearly tripling his salary. He grew up in a modest home, so this was a significant opportunity.
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, heard about this and decided to make him a better offer and promote him to the number two job — Deputy Director — at the Dubai Department of Economic Development.
Unbeknownst to Gergawi, one of the men that he helped while in his mid-level job was one of Shaikh Mohammad’s ‘mystery shoppers’. After Moaded, the mystery shopper, submitted a report highlighting Gergawi’s exemplary behaviour, Shaikh Mohammad instructed him to keep an eye on the young Gergawi.
He was spotted. Now they watched to see how he performed. They learnt that under his leadership the department got better — became more efficient, customer satisfaction was on the rise.
When Gergawi shared this great news about the promotion with his mother, whom he is very close to, she encouraged — actually demanded — that he go and thank Shaikh Mohammed for the promotion. Nervous he went to the majlis at Za’beel Palace. The night he went there well over a hundred people were there as well.
This made Gergawi even more hesitant and scared. Finally he walked over to thank Shaikh Mohammad, “Your Highness, you don’t know me. My name is Mohammad Gergawi. You promoted me two months ago. I’m just here to say thank you very much. With God’s help, I can live up to your expectations. I hope I can deliver.”
As he stood to walk away, Shaikh Mohammad pulled Gergawi’s hand to make him sit back down. The majlis became very quiet then and everyone watched to see what was going to be said. And Shaikh Mohammad said, “Mohammad, I know you well actually, and I’ve been following you for the past four or five years. I know what you do — and this the beginning for you actually.”
Shaikh Mohammad’s mystery shopper didn’t watch for just a few weeks or months. They watched for years, keeping an eye on Gergawi’s performance.
Shaikh Mohammad gave a message to the whole majlis about leading Dubai style. Spot leadership talent — grow it! You are responsible for building tomorrow’s leaders, today.
My whole life has been committed to growing leaders and in the past two-and-a-half decades, I’ve never seen this level of conviction. It is an obsession you should have.
You should be building the leadership prowess of your city or company thinking a decade or more into the future. Forget “gap analysis” about today, leadership is future oriented. Your investment today will quickly be realised as it was in Dubai.
You need to grow your future leaders today. If you delay, tomorrow will come sooner than you are ready for.
The writer is a leadership adviser and author of ‘10 Tips for Leading in the Middle East’ and other writings. Follow him on Twitter: @tommyweir.
