Nia, a dedicated employee, had recently been promoted to general manager of a major fashion retail outlet. She was ecstatic, having worked tirelessly for years to get to this point. Armed with a binder full of ideas for improving the store, Nia was ready to make her mark.

On her first day as manager, she held a meeting with the staff, introducing strict new protocols. She set high expectations, threatening to revoke incentives for any mistakes, whether they were related to uniforms, punctuality, or customer service. The employees, while supportive of Nia’s journey, were shocked by the harshness of her new rules.

As the days went by, Nia’s leadership became increasingly demanding. She imposed longer shifts, banned breaks longer than five minutes, and required staff to push themselves harder than ever before. She made it clear that there was no room for error, as her focus was on profits and company success. However, her management style took a toll on the staff, and productivity began to suffer.

The turning point came when Nia fired Maya, a saleswoman, for dozing off during a shift due to exhaustion. The staff was horrified, but things took a more dramatic turn when Victor, an elderly janitor, spoke up. He suggested that Nia reconsider her approach, but Nia, irritated by his criticism, fired him as well. Unbeknownst to her, Victor was much more than a janitor—he was a co-owner of the business.

The following day, the store’s owner, Mr. Gordon, visited to investigate the declining sales. He was shocked by what he heard and quickly learned of Victor’s true role in the company. Victor had saved Mr. Gordon’s life years ago, leading the owner to offer him a stake in the business. Despite his substantial ownership, Victor had chosen to remain in his janitorial role, helping others and donating his earnings to charity.

Mr. Gordon was furious with Nia for firing Victor and Maya, and he instructed her to apologize. Nia, realizing the enormity of her mistake, sought out Victor at his modest home. She learned valuable lessons from him about the importance of treating employees with respect and empathy, as Victor’s philosophy of kindness and consideration had always been at the heart of the company’s success.

Victor, while disappointed in Nia’s actions, decided to give her a second chance. The next day, Nia publicly acknowledged her mistakes to the staff and informed them that Victor would now be taking the lead. She adopted Victor’s principles, focusing on making the workplace a more supportive environment.

As a result, employee morale improved, and sales surged in the following quarter. Nia’s efforts did not go unnoticed, and five years later, she was promoted to CEO of the company. Meanwhile, Victor continued to work as the janitor, content with the job he loved.