The Pacific Way…? I was approached by a group of disgruntled workers the other day lamenting on how they had not been paid for the past 4 weeks… Their pay master had up and gone for a series of meetings overseas leaving clear instructions on the duties to be performed, yet amazingly silent on the remuneration issue. I understood their frustration but could not make sense of their timing… Why complain now..? …why not the first week… why not the 2nd …why not next year…. Why now when the boss is away..? Their answer circulated around the issues of shyness and being intimidated by authority…. A Pacific thing..? …Definitely..! And what about this Pacific leader…? …. showed excellent managerial skills in securing a work trip overseas… (allowances, airfares, hotel accommodation etc.)… sadly, not so good when it comes to negotiating for the local flock of goats…. A Pacific thing…? Hell yeah..! …it takes my mind back to the words of an aging Chief…. We were seated at the village green watching Christmas celebrations at its Fijian best…. The men were bringing food, both cooked and raw …. The women folks were busy catering for the feast already under way… the children ran around jovial and free, like butterflies on a summer’s morn…. ...then the graying wise man turned to me and said: “Son… You think all this is possible because I’m a strong Chief… No..! There is no such thing as a strong Chief… A Chief’s strength lies with his people… the stronger the people, the stronger the Chief… the weaker the people, the weaker the Chief. Look after your people…. for therein lies your strength… Nurture them… lift them up, and they will lift you up even higher… trample on them and they will dump you down lower than the least of them..!” Now, that to me is the Pacific Way..! It surely makes Pacific Sense…. Yes ..? How about it my Pacific Colleagues… Leaders…? Are we up to the challenge…..? It is my prayer today, that God gives us the Strength and Wisdom to lead Graciously… ….the genuine Pacific Way… :)
Posted on: Wed, 03 Sep 2014 20:50:26 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015