by Karen M. Leet
Emma thought of herself as a tiger.
She often thought of a poem she’d learned years ago in high school – Blake’s poem – “Tyger, Tyger, burning bright, in the forests of the night…”
That poem was great. Perfect. Powerful.
Emma thought of herself as strong, firm, confident. She was the tiger. She could tackle any problem, take on any trial or trouble, face down any attack, harsh or mild.
Emma knew whatever came at her, she could, she would handle it. She knew she was strong, tough, powerful – like that tiger she so admired.
She was proud of herself. No one could demean her in any way. She was a woman – and women were often labeled as “the weaker sex.”
But Emma had worked hard to be strong, tough, thick-skinned and ferocious when she had to be.
The day Louise tapped on her door, though, Emma knew instantly that Louise did not need a tiger waiting for her. Louise needed the total opposite of a tiger. Louise needed kindness, comfort, caring. Emma could see that right away.
Within two minutes of settling in a chair in Emma’s office, Louise began to cry.
Emma handed Louise the entire tissue box. Clearly this was a real crisis and would need plenty of patience, kindness, a quiet calm and a loving touch.
Though in the classes she led or in boardroom presentations, Emma was the tiger – strong, firm, fierce – right now, with a fragile co-worker, Emma could be soft and sweet, calm and caring, gentle and kind, more a lamb than a tiger.
Which was exactly what Louise needed.
Staying strong but gentle, just what Louise required, Emma listened as the problem poured out, and plenty more tears did, too.
Together, side by side, Emma and Louise talked it all over, weighed options for action, shed a few more tears and finally worked out a plan.
When Louise stood up to leave Emma’s office, she hugged Emma, long and hard.
“You are the best compliance officer ever,” Louise told Emma. “You are so kind, so caring, so gentle.”
Sniffling softly, hugging Emma three more times, Louise left the office, her eyes still wet, but her heart, mind and spirit calmed and comforted.
As Louise left, Emma whispered in her ear.
“Remember, don’t tell anyone what a softy I really am,” Emma told her.
“Cross my heart and hope to die if I tattle on you,” promised Louise with one more tearful hug as she slipped out of Emma’s office.
With a satisfied sigh, Emma settled behind her desk. She shook herself mentally, pushing away the softness she’d needed for Emma.
“I am the tiger,” she gently reminded herself. “I can handle anything and everything. I am the tiger, burning bright. I am the tiger, fierce and strong.”
With a ferocious grin, she settled in to tackle the next task in her own personal jungle.
© 2024 K. Leet
What do you think?
Can you handle anything?
Can you be the tiger and the lamb?
Can you be strong and kind?
These are stories (usually fictional, but not always), based on insights and experiences from the world of compliance & ethics.
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