The Fourth King. Can there be love and compassion in supply chain environments?
Magi? Kings? Wise men? Sorcerers? Astrologers?
I call them three curious guys.
But there is a story which I love. The legend of the fourth guy who didn’t arrive at Bethlehem.
According to the tradition, three wise men came from the east following a star to find Christ-child in the manger. A fourth man allegedly was in the company. But along the way, he witnessed poverty, sickness and pain, and although he dreamed of seeing the child, he chose to follow the light in his own heart and help those in need.
He stayed at a leprosy camp, “it will be just for a few days, he thought, and then I will catch up with the others.” But as he worked hard to improve the conditions of the camp and bring hope to those sick with this terrible illness, the days turned into many years.
One day, the fourth king, now old and spent, saw in the distance, not far from his camp, a man carrying a cross followed by a multitude… somehow, he knew at that moment that man was the child he had once hoped to see. He rushed to his encounter. When he reached Jesus, he hopelessly said, “I have nothing to give you,” But Jesus said, “you have already given everything.”
This article is not meant to be about religion, and faith is a personal subject. The story of the fourth king may be nothing but a legend, but we can agree that two thousand-something years ago, a man brought a message of love and compassion that we can still relate to in our time.
Love and compassion are often expressed in our service to others, not just in our private lives but also to those we work with, with whom we often spend more time than with our families.
But is there space for love and compassion in today’s rigorous work environments like manufacturing and supply chain? What if others take advantage of your generosity, or you are considered too weak to lead? What if you alienate people crucial to your progress and development just by writing or talking about this topic?
Some may say: Love and compassion, please!!! What we need are profits!
I agree; the reason for a business to exist is to make profits. This is, in fact, the core value that my team and I provide to clients. Being of service to others does not go against leading a company toward profitability and growth; quite the opposite, it goes in favour.
But how can we achieve this without looking weak and still deliver outstanding business results?
This is my formula:
1) Being authentic:
A friend and mentor once told me, “when people regret having been nice to others that did not repay them with the same kindness is because they were not authentically nice in the first place; they were merely pretending and expecting something in return; when it didn’t happen, they go back to being their true not-nice selves. Be nice if it is your choice and move on with peace in your mind; then, regardless of what others do, you will never regret your kindness.” Over the years, I’ve learnt my friend was right. When you are authentic, there is where you win minds and hearts.
2) Being assertive:
Spanish business consultant and motivational speaker Luis Galindo says, “we lead effectively when we lead both with a very high sense of humanity and a very high sense of performance.” Being a loving person and providing service to others does not mean that things will not get done or that you will tolerate mediocre work. Assertiveness is a form of compassion because, with clear expectations, honest communication and timely feedback, teams tend to get back into their “best-performing zone” without ever completely derailing into failure.
3) Being aware:
Awareness is a form of listening with all our senses. A live line between our intuition and conscious mind, where the latter is sensitive to the signals of the former, even when those signals are not all that obvious. You can only serve if you understand where you are needed; awareness keeps us in the present moment and in tune with those around us.
Authenticity, assertiveness, and awareness, consume lots of energy. You will arrive home from work, well, tired and spent, but if there is love in what you do, you will also come home feeling valuable.
Have you heard the story of the fourth king before? Is there a fourth king in your life? I have been fortunate to meet a few.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
By: The Ana Lovera Inc and Sourcing Values Editorial Team. Copyright 2023.
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