Leadership story: The seeds of future leaders

Once upon a time, a successful businessman grew old and knew that it was time to choose his successor to take over the business. But instead of choosing one of his children or relatives, he decided to do something else. He called all the young executives in his company to meet together. The day came and he began by saying, “It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I decided to choose one of you. “

The young directors were completely shocked, but the old man continued. “Today I will give each of you seeds and these are very special SEEDS. I want you to plant, water and return the seed exactly one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. After that, I will judge the plants and decide which of you will be the next CEO. ”One man named John was there that day and, like the other, received one special seed. He went home and excited, telling the story to his wife. She helped him get the pot, land and planted the seed peacefully.

I would water her every day and watch her grow. After about three weeks, some of the other contractors started talking about their seeds and plants that started growing. John kept checking his seeds, but there was no sign of growth. Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks have passed, still nothing. So far, others have been talking about their plants, but John had no plant and it felt like a failure.

Six months have passed and nothing is still in John’s pot. He was finally believed to have killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, and he had nothing. John said nothing to his colleagues. However, he only continued to water and fertilize the soil because he badly wanted the seed to grow. The year has finally passed and all the company’s young directors have brought their business to the CEO for review.

John told his wife not to take the empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened. John was afraid it would be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took the empty pot to the room. When John arrived, he was impressed with the variety of plants grown by other directors. They were beautiful and in all shapes and sizes. When John put the empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues were laughing, something made him laugh!

Finally, upon the arrival of the CEO, he inspected the room and greeted his young executives. John was just trying to hide in the back. “My, what wonderful plants, trees, and flowers you have grown,” said the CEO. “Today, one of you will be named the next CEO!” Suddenly, General Manager John noticed his empty pot at the back of the room. He instructed the CFO to bring him to the front. John was scared. In his mind, he thought, “The CEO knows I’m a failure! Maybe he’ll fire me!” When John came to the front, the CEO asked him what happened to his seed – John told him a story.

The old director asked everyone to sit down except John. He looked at John and then announced to the young directors, “Look at your next CEO! His name is John! “John couldn’t believe it because he couldn’t even grow a seed. How could a new CEO be?” Others said with a bewildered look.

Then the CEO said, “A year ago, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it and bring it back today. But I gave you all the cooked seeds; they were dead – to grow it was impossible for them all, except John, you brought me trees, plants, and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you replaced the other seed with the one I gave you. John was the only one with courage and honesty. that he brought me a pot of my honesty seed. That’s why he’s the new CEO! “