Demoted to be promoted

The title is a little strange isn’t it?

But once you hear this unbelievable story you will know why I entitled it this way.

We were having lunch with EDSA Shangri-La Hotel’s inspiring leader general manager Peter Chia together with the charming HR director Wilma Estaura and over the course of our conversation we shifted topic from training needs to reasons why certain people succeed despite insurmountable odds.

Suddenly both hoteliers looked at the gentleman who was efficiently serving tables and turned their attention towards me and told me the story of Nelson Ong.

Take a look at his brief resume. 

June 15, 1999 – Hired as F&B Steward

June 1, 2005 – Promoted as Shift Supervisor in F&B Stewarding

June 1, 2007 – Service Associate (Waiter) - F&B HEAT Restaurant 

Nov. 1, 2007 – Promoted as Service Leader (Captain Waiter) at F&B HEAT Restaurant

Look at the speed of his climb in the hotel’s corporate ladder.

But did you notice one curios thing in his resume?

He was already a shift supervisor but when he transferred to HEAT Restaurant he got demoted. Why is this so? Is it because Nelson did not perform well in his job? On the contrary, Nelson did very well but he made an unbelievable decision.

HR director Wilma says: “Nelson Ong was a Service Leader in Stewarding and he wanted to transfer to HEAT to further his career. He knew that in order for him to be respected and accepted as a supervisor, he must first be able to prove himself to be a good Service Associate.”

Isn’t it amazing? Nelson volunteered to take a demotion for six months.

Wilma says: “During these months, he worked hard, earned the respect of his new colleagues and earned the Customer Delight Program Gold Star recognition from guests. This is a company wide program used to show appreciation and award employees who go the “extra mile” to delight customers. And after that, Nelson Ong was promoted to the position of Service Leader of HEAT Restaurant service.”

Nelson earned the trust and admiration of his peers because he performed extremely well. He moved down in order to soar up, took a demotion so that he could be promoted. Now how many employees do you know would be willing to do what Nelson did?

Humility accomplishes much. Pride leads to destruction.

The true leader serves. And this is why the true leader is truly respected and admired.

Nelson Ong has the markings of a true leader. I sure would expect to see him reach higher positions in the company soon and maybe invite him to do some leadership talks too one day.

Before finishing my dessert and rushing back to my training, I talked to Nelson. Nelson says he is so proud working for the company because of their inspiring leaders too. I found out that he will soon be sent to Shanghai for further training and I am sure that more possible promotions await him.

It’s not easy to start from the bottom. Things can get pretty shaky with a decision like that. But here is the key: Take a handful of peas and a handful of beans and put them in a jar. Now shake up the jar. Shake it well and you’ll find that the peas will go to the bottom of the jar and the beans will wind up on top. Leaders are like beans. They rise to the top when things get shook up.

Good job Nelson. Keep it up!

(Click on to www.franciskong.com and send me your feedback or you can also listen to my radio program “Business Matters” aired 8:00a.m. and 6:30 p.m. weekdays over 98.7 dzFE-FM ‘The Master’s Touch’, the classical music station.)