A 30-Minute Oil Change Taught Me A Master’s Class on Leadership
How outstanding leadership often happens in unexpected ways.
I was recently waiting in line at one of the many fast-and-easy oil change places that have popped up all over town. I was working on some edits on a new article I had written while the car in front of me finished its service.
These places are pretty simple and straightforward: drive in, get your oil changed, pay, and leave.
You don’t expect much in the way of customer service, and most of the time, you don’t get much.
But on this day, something different happened.
An Unexpected Exchange
The car ahead of me wrapped up its oil change and pulled forward to the pay window. The attendant, a young man who looked to be in his early 20s, waved them out and on their way. He then turned to me and waved me in.
I pulled forward and stopped at the bay where he was waiting. He greeted me with a smile and asked me how my day was going. I told him it was going well, and he proceeded through the routine oil change process.
While he worked, I watched as he dutifully and carefully followed the steps of the oil change process. He was methodical and precise in his actions, making sure each step was done…
