The Gift of Unexpected Lessons

“I have no use for community relations.” he said boldly without even as much as a pause after introducing himself as the new regional manager.   

Although we had worked for the same company for many years, and had crossed paths before, we had never worked together.  

I was the regional community relations specialist and, now that he was a manager in the same region, we had to work together.  

“Great. Let’s cut a deal right now to not work together. I have more than enough to do without supporting you and your team or your projects.  

His job was to manage a team and projects, including engineering, design, budgets, and schedule - aspects that could make or break a project.  

Mine was to manage the relationships with municipal officials and the public, aspects that could also make or break a project.  

My career success largely depended on supporting the regional management team and projects throughout the 60 or so communities.

His success depended upon the engineering, design, and construction of projects, which were nearly impossible without support and approval by municipal departments, boards, commissions, and councils.  

“No” he replied, “we’ll try it; see how it goes.  But I’m telling you right now, if you get in my way, I won’t involve you in any of my projects again.”  

“Deal!” I said, if for no other reason than to put an end to the conversation.  

How I was ever going to work with him, I thought as I walked away. I could not imagine the two of us working well together after that exchange.

He was independent, determined, self-reliant, and distrustful of others. He was proud of his work and took his role and responsibilities very seriously.

He was exactly like me.  

As the months and years passed, he and I worked on dozens of projects together.   

I never got in his way.  Nor did he get in mine.  

We did not always understand or appreciate each other’s ideas, opinions, perspective, or approach. 

We did, however, come to understand and respect the role that each of us played in the success of a project.

We learned from each other and from our individual and collective mistakes. We even learned how to laugh at ourselves in the process.  

More importantly, we learned that our success as a team was as important as our individual success.  

And I learned so much about myself through this experience.  

Lessons and teachers show up when we least expect them, often masqueraded as challenging individuals and situations. 

Unexpected lessons that we all need to experience in order to learn and grow.  

What lessons and teachers have shown up in your life and career?

How have you changed as a result?