Nia had recently stepped into the role of general manager at a major fashion retail outlet. Just a week in, she was brimming with ideas and eager to implement major changes, all neatly laid out in a binder she had prepared over the years.

One morning, she gathered her staff, her enthusiasm palpable. “Alright, team! Is everyone clear on the new protocols we’re implementing?” she asked, her face shining with pride.

The staff nodded, though concern flickered in their eyes.

“I want to emphasize that anyone who deviates from these rules — whether it’s about uniforms, customer greetings, display arrangements, or punctuality — will lose their incentive for the month,” she declared.

An anxious silence followed. Her strict measures had left them worried about their jobs, fearing that even minor mistakes could have serious consequences.

Initially, they respected Nia; they admired her journey from intern to manager. But her approach soon became overly rigid. She set lofty goals and reacted harshly to small errors. The employees, already stretched thin, felt overwhelmed. Her relentless drive to impress customers meant cutting breaks and enforcing strict attendance, leaving the staff exhausted.

Nia’s management style peaked when she found Maya, a saleswoman, asleep on the counter after a particularly grueling week. “How dare you sleep during work?” she thundered, causing Maya to jump.

“I’m sorry, Nia, I’m just so tired…” Maya stammered.

But Nia, driven by her own frustrations, wasn’t having it. “Meet me in my office,” she ordered, and with a swift decision, she fired Maya on the spot, tossing her paycheck at her.

The team stood in shock, but no one dared speak up. As Maya left, Victor, the 68-year-old janitor, tried to reason with Nia. “Nia, maybe we could overlook small mistakes…”

Nia cut him off, irritated. “That’s enough, Victor! Do you think I haven’t noticed your tardiness? You’ve been coming in late every day!”

Victor attempted to explain. “There’s a reason for that…”

But Nia, unwilling to hear him out, declared, “I don’t care! You’re fired! Now you can leave with Maya!”

As Victor and Maya exited quietly, the remaining staff felt a wave of sorrow for the old man.

The next day, an unexpected twist unfolded. Mr. Gordon, the owner of the store chain, paid a surprise visit. “Good morning, everyone! How are things?” he asked, noticing the lackluster atmosphere.

A worker replied, “It could be better…”

Mr. Gordon, sensing the underlying issues, called Nia into his office. “Our revenue has dropped. What’s going on?”

Nia shifted blame to the staff, calling them lazy and needing constant supervision. “They need to be monitored!” she insisted.

Mr. Gordon frowned. “We had the same staff last month. They weren’t lazy then. Where’s Victor?”

“He was fired for being late,” Nia said dismissively.

Mr. Gordon’s expression shifted to shock. “You fired the co-owner of this store?”

Nia stammered, “Co-owner? But he’s just a janitor!”

Mr. Gordon explained. “Victor saved my life as a child, and my father rewarded him with a share in the business. He agreed to work as a janitor out of humility. Now, you need to apologize to him. He’s taking over this unit tomorrow, and whether you keep your job is up to him.”

Panic surged through Nia as she realized the gravity of her actions. She hurried to Victor’s home, anxious about facing him.

Upon arrival, she found Victor in a modest, unassuming house. He greeted her warmly, offering apple pie. “Mr. Gordon mentioned you’d come. Please, make yourself comfortable,” he said, unaffected by their earlier confrontation.

Nia felt out of place, but Victor began sharing the business philosophy of Mr. Gordon’s father — a focus on valuing staff and treating them like family. “When employees feel valued, they provide exceptional service. That’s how we grow,” he explained.

As they spoke, Nia began to understand her mistakes. “But won’t treating them well make them less dedicated?” she asked.

Victor smiled. “A devoted team will always go above and beyond. It’s about building trust.”

Before she left, Victor assured her, “I won’t fire you. We’ll decide together with the staff.”

Relieved, Nia returned to the store and gathered her employees. “Good day, everyone!” she began, surprising them with her enthusiasm. “I want to announce that Victor will be our new leader starting tomorrow.”

Gasps filled the room. “Don’t worry! I made mistakes, but we’re going to work together now. Maya will be back, and we’ll be a team.”

From that day forward, Nia embraced Victor’s approach, treating her staff with respect and compassion. Slowly, the morale in the store improved, and sales surged.

Mr. Gordon, pleased with the turnaround, chose not to fire Nia. Five years later, she was promoted to CEO of all outlets, while Victor continued to work as a janitor, fulfilling a role he loved.

In the end, both Nia and Victor proved that true leadership is about empowerment and respect, transforming the store into a thriving community.