There’s been a unique report on social media of how a banker changed the life of a bank Security guard forever. It was a perfect case of a patient dog receiving the fattest bone. A scenario of the dividends of humility and hardwork.
A Nigerian banker, Ayomide Babalola, has narrated how he changed a security guard’s life forever and elevated him into a better position in the bank.
The banker took to social media platform, Facebook to reveal that the security guard had told him about having an OND certificate.
Following a vacant position in the bank, the security guard whose name was given as Idris was able to secure the job through Ayomide’s help, after passing the necessary aptitude test.
Ayomide retelling the story said that ”from the first day, I resumed in my branch, September 2015, I had noticed IDRIS…Chai!!! You could not miss him with his smart and military-like salute for staff and customers…”
His was a perfect opposite of the idiomatic expression which states that ”a closed mouth is a closed destiny.” Just few months after I met him, he made a request to see me and told me, “Oga, I have an OND certificate and I am almost through with my University degree program(Part-Time).”
Wow, I was amazed but happy for him and encouraged him.
Later on, precisely Dec 2019, one of our staff member got a higher role in the bank and was about to be moved to another department. Idris came to me and told me he was qualified and interested in the ‘would be vacant position’. My interest was piqued. Nothing gets me more than people development especially my team members.
One of the initiatives I introduced, (away from the norm,) was insisting that all security guards be part of the daily meetings and knowledge sharing sessions.
This helped them a lot in product knowledge, public speaking and they were smarter and more confident than their contemporaries. This also helped the branch as output was increased and all our KPIs were achieved.
At his request, I got in touch with the recruiting department for that vacancy, the aptitude test for that role was scheduled for him, an interview was conducted, he passed all and was given an offer all within a week.
The picture showed us together on his last day as a security guard on FRIDAY and his First day inside the branch the following MONDAY.
The above happened January 2020 and I was deployed to another location shortly after.
I am sharing now (WITH HIS PERMISSION) because I was at his branch yesterday and his supervisors attest to his commitment on the job. It was a true testament to the fact that ”SUCCESS is where PREPARATION and OPPORTUNITY meet.”
Idris was adept as a security guard. This was evident in the way I noticed his salute out of his colleagues. Add something to the way you work. Those little extras matter.
Be ready to take the bulls by its horns sometimes. If he didn’t approach me to inform me of his academic qualifications and his interest in the vacancy, I would never have considered him.
As a supervisor, you must be approachable and accessible. That category of staff you term ‘unimportant’, are actually very important to you and the success of your team. Your driver, the elevator guy, the security guard, the so-called ‘Contract staff’ in your unit is important!! THINK ABOUT IT.
Most importantly as a boss, actively seek out opportunities to develop and uplift your team members. They would go all out to ensure your success too.
