My son recently took his first solo trip on an airline to visit our family in Northern California. He is a seasoned travel, having flown many times before including internationally. Yet he’s only 9 years old, and so like any parent I was concerned for his safe departure and arrival on the other end.\n

I had read the airline regulations online for unaccompanied minors and spoke with the Southwest representative, so I knew that I needed to stay at the gate until the airplane was actually in the air.   As his plane ascended, I thanked the person at the gate, who said, “Thanks so much for staying.” To which I replied, “Of course, he is my most precious cargo, I wouldn’t dream of not staying to make sure he made it safely on his way.”  She said, “You’d be surprised how many people don’t want to wait.”

\nI was a little shocked really.  Then of course my thoughts drifted to, my favorite subject leadership and it struck me that when leaders  treat their people like “precious cargo”  and they recognize others as “valuable” and “important” and  help “carry” and “move” them from one place to another in an organization, great things happen.  It is the leader’s role to provide  guidance and counsel to help those around them “soar.” It’s easy to become impatient, but effective leaders stay at the gate, and watch over for their precious cargo, making sure they reach their potential.\n\n