He's Just a Polisher

As part of a customer visit, I was charged with arranging a tour through our facilities. As we toured the shop, the person actually conducting the tour was pointing out various operations and introducing our guest to some of the employees. But we bypassed a work area where an employee was polishing jewelry, a very messy operation involving water and compounds. The employee had to wear an apron to keep the "mud" off his clothes and I imagine the tour guide didn't want the customer to get dirty.

Polishing is a very important operation in certain aspects of jewelry manufacturing. It takes a good eye and the right technique to "kiss" the jewelry just in just the right way to bring out highlights and make the jewelry piece attractive to the consumer. Our tour guide neglected to mention this detail or to even tell a customer what operation was being bypassed.

The customer took note and asked: "Who is that?," since he had already been introduced to many other people. The tour guide responded: "Oh, that's Paul, he's just a polisher."

I cringed. He's not just a polisher. Paul is an important part of our jewelry manufacturing operations. His job may be dirty, but it involves a good eye and a sense of artistry. Much of the attractiveness of the finished piece to the retail customer involves Paul's work. And more than that he's a human being with a family and children and hobbies and interests. In fact, when he left work on the day of this incident (and thankfully I don't think he heard the remark), Paul headed for places where he is well known. In many different locations throughout this area Paul gets on stage as a member of one of this area's leading country-western bands.

I tell this story because it illustrates a mistake I hope I'll never make, demeaning the workstation in life of another human being. And I also tell his story because I hope you too will never make that mistake.

About me: Dan Pelley is a Rhode Island-based educator with a diverse background. He has been a warehouse man, delivery driver, machine operator, janitor, soldier, cost accountant, system analyst, consultant, money dealer, marketer, chief financial officer, chief operating officer, and member of several boards of directors. He attributes his success in educating first-line managers to the fact that he always remembers where he came from. He also believes that most people are capable of professional growth if they are willing to learn what they need to know and do what is necessary to advance their careers.

Copyright © 2009 Daniel W. Pelley
All rights reserved.