ガラスの優等生[Fragile Honor Student]

投稿者: | 2025-01-20

 随分前の話にはなるが、私が仕事で大変お世話になっている、ある小さな会社の中で、ある人が降格させられた。我々外注業者の窓口のような役割を担ってくれていた方で、肩書きも立派だったし、頭脳明晰で仕事も早い。困ったときにはいつも、私はその方を頼りにしていた。ところがある日突然その人がどこかの部署へ異動になってしまう。明白な降格人事だった。
 世話になった方だったし、私は不憫に思った。その方が何か問題があるような行いをしたとは思えなかったが、降格の理由を本人に聞くわけにもいかず、そのまま自然と疎遠になっていった。ただ本人が、『オレ、何か悪い事したかな』と何度もつぶやいていたことがよく思い出される。

 時は流れ、ある時その会社で大幅な人事異動があった。驚いたことにあの時降格させられたあの人が、社長に昇格したのだった。人生には本当に色々な事が起こる。立場が変わったその人とまた違う形でのお付き合いが始まったわけだが、月日が経つにつれて、私はその人がどうして降格させられたのかだんだんと分かっていったような気がする。彼があの時降格されたのは何か悪い事をしたのではなく、何もしなかったことが原因だったのではないかと私は思う。
 学歴が高く、いわゆる“優等生タイプ”のその人には、抜群の処理能力があっても、意欲と情熱がなかった。残念ながら意欲がないところにはアイデアも生まれてこないことが多い。言われたことを的確にこなすことはできても、周りを感心させられるような人の心を惹きつける力が無い。これでは降格も仕方がないと感じてしまった次第だ。彼を降格させた当時の社長様は彼の本質を見抜いておられたと言うことだと思う。私にはそこまで分からなかった。人の上に立つと言うことは優秀なだけでは務まらないのだろう。

 いずれにしても、現在彼は歴とした社長様であることは間違いない。未だにお世話になっている会社であるし、潰れてもらっては私も困る。だから可能な限り私も全力で応援するのだが、厳しいようだがあの方がトップでは残念ながら先が見えているように思う。難しい問題の処理は部下に丸投げで、自分で何とかしようという気概が私からは見受けられない。あらゆる事象から逃げの一手を打ち続けているように見える。
 当然ながら私によその会社の人事に口を出す権利はなく、行く末を見守るくらいしかできない。そして現実に会社の業績は落ちてきてしまっていて、存続の危機とも言える時期を迎えた。

 私は神さまに祈る。間違いなく私にとってもピンチなわけで、「この窮地を脱することができる力を与えてください。導いてください。」と祈る。自分の事として捉え、懸命に祈る。もちろんできる限りの仕事もしてみせる。
 だが、私も頑張るが、やはり当事者が本気で取り組んでくれないことには、私の祈りは神さまへ届かないような気がしてならない。とりなしの祈りである以上、本人たちの頑張りが是非とも必要だ。だから「彼らに力を授けてください。主にあって彼らの進むべき道をお示しください」と祈る。それでももし本人たちの姿勢が変わらないのであれば、潰れてしまっても仕方がないと私は思う。

 尻に火がついてからじゃ、遅いんだけどね~

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Fragile Honor Student

 This is a story from a long time ago, but a person I was very grateful to for their help at work was demoted at a small company. This person was in charge of liaising with us as an outsourcing company, and had a prestigious title, was very intelligent and worked quickly. Whenever I was in trouble, I always relied on this person. However, one day, this person was suddenly transferred to another department. It was a clear case of demotion.
 I felt sorry for him, as he had been a great help to me. I couldn’t imagine that he had done anything wrong, but I couldn’t ask him about the reason for his demotion, and we gradually drifted apart. I remember him muttering to himself many times, ‘Did I do something wrong?

 Time passed, and one day there was a major personnel reshuffle at the company. To my surprise, the person who had been demoted at that time had been promoted to president. There really are all sorts of things that happen in life. I began to associate with the person in a different way after his position had changed, and as the months passed, I gradually began to understand why he had been demoted. I think that the reason he was demoted at that time was not because he had done anything wrong, but because he had done nothing.
 Despite his high academic record and so-called ‘good student’ type personality, he had outstanding processing ability but lacked motivation and passion. Unfortunately, ideas often don’t come to people who lack motivation. He was able to do what he was told, but he didn’t have the ability to attract people or impress those around him. I felt that this was why he was demoted. I think that the president who demoted him at the time was able to see through his true nature. I was unable to see that. I guess being in a position of authority requires more than just being good at your job.

 In any case, there is no doubt that he is now the company president. The company is still one I am indebted to, and I would be in trouble if it went under. So I will do my best to support him as much as I can, but unfortunately, it seems to me that the future is already clear with him at the top. He seems to be passing on the difficult problems to his subordinates and I can’t see any determination in him to try and do something about it himself. It seems like he is continually playing a game of escape from all kinds of problems.
 Naturally, I have no right to interfere in the personnel affairs of other companies, and all I can do is watch over the future. And in reality, the company’s performance has declined, and we have reached a point where we could say that the company’s survival is at stake.

 I pray to God. It is definitely a crisis for me too, so I pray, “Please give me the strength to escape this predicament. Please guide me.” I pray as if it were my own problem, and I pray with all my might. Of course, I also do all the work I can.
 But even though I’m doing my best, I can’t help but feel that my prayers won’t reach God unless the people involved are also working hard. Since this is an intercessory prayer, it is absolutely necessary for the people themselves to work hard. So I pray, “Please give them strength. Show them the path they should take in the Lord.” Even so, if the people themselves don’t change their attitude, I think it’s no use even if they go bankrupt.

 It’s too late once the fire has caught them by the butt!

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