“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” – Philippians 2:3
The one thing I can count on every Wednesday morning when I report for duty at my volunteer job at Hugs Café, like clockwork Manny will be waiting for me when I walk through the door, broom in hand and a smile on his face. After greeting each other with a handshake, fist-bump, or high-five – sometimes even a hug – Manny will raise his broomstick then ask, “Sweep?” “Good idea Manny,” I will respond, “let’s sweep,” after which Manny sweeps while I hold the dustpan and cheer him on.
We have become a great team, Manny and me. Not only do we keep the floors immaculately clean, we are also partners in doing other tasks and projects around the café, like labeling packages, rolling silverware, busing tables, and sometimes greeting customers when they come through the door. And we learn from each other. Sometimes Manny points out to me things that need to be done, and in turn I am able to teach him better ways of doing them. Then, every time we complete a task or finish a project we fist-bump or high-five to congratulate our success.
Benjamin Disraeli and William Gladstone are widely believed to have been the two greatest British Prime Ministers of the nineteenth century, yet very different. Someone said that if you walked out of Gladstone’s office after meeting with him you would think he was the smartest person in the world. Disraeli, on the other hand, after meeting with him you would likely walk out feeling like YOU were the smartest person in the world. My old coaching professor and friend Dr. Robert Hicks might describe the difference between the two as doing something to someone (like teaching or lecturing) versus doing something with someone (like two partners figuring it out together).
As with the other teammate-employees at Hugs, Manny has some intellectual and developmental disabilities. So, it would be easy to be a Gladstone with him and simply tell him what to do, and perhaps I did treat him that way at first. But it is much more effective – and fun – to work with him and be his partner, to fist-bump and high-five at end of the day, to go home fulfilled with a sense of accomplishment – both of us. You’re awesome Manny! Thank you for being my partner and my friend.