In Search of Mr. Mitchell

I started this blog with a question: What’s Altruistic Leadership? Well aside from being the name of my organization, for me it's servant leadership—that which I experienced much of in the 80’s. You’ll notice this post is entitled, “In Search of Mr. Mitchell”. Mr. Mitchell was the President, CEO, and Chairman (from what I recollect) of San Francisco Federal Savings and Loan, a placed I worked at shortly after the death of my mother in 1981. With my father’s passing at the age of 9, my mother was the complete parent for me. However, with her death in 1981, and me in college, studio apartment, car note, insurance, and barely making ends meets, that job and Mr. Mitchell meant a great deal to me and my survival.

The 80’s were hard times for the Savings and Loans industry. And, like today employers were looking for cost savings anyway they could. But, unlike today, the leaders during that time seem to be more focused on people—personally—their employees. Or, perhaps I was fortunate enough to have that experience. Before all the formal training programs, vision and values plastered on walls and in booklets—these leaders seem to follow truly selfless rules, little examples that leave lasting impacts. Before pay it forward was a buzzword, they understood the importance of the concept and lived it.


Fade to black its 1981 and I’m in an elevator with Mr. Mitchell and two other executives. They’re openly discussing ways to trim expenses. One of the executive mentions a way to cut several thousand dollars—eliminate the soda fountain and toaster that was located in the break area on the 3rd floor. “The younger staff appears to be the only ones taking advantage of it. Besides they go through several loaves of bread daily…” It was a good idea, one that made my heart quicken—I panicked. Mr. Mitchell’s response firm but gentle “You’re right, it is the younger folks…but you see, for some of those kids, that’s their only meal. Let’s look elsewhere”. He knew that it was our only meal, my only meal. The first year after my Mom’s death was rough. Without too much detail, I was on-my-own as it was for so many other younger staff members at SF Fed. The “breakfast” was one of the reasons we came to work there. Before the dotcoms and their juice-bars, candy, ice-cream, hot lunches, or free vending machines, there was a Mr. Mitchell with a soda fountain and toast; a leader so in-tune with the personal needs of his staff.


Fortunately for me, my experience with this extraordinary leader didn’t end there. You might see this as a simple perhaps even trite example of altruism, but doesn’t altruism include little self-less acts that leave lasting impacts—that change lives. It changed mine. Those who know me know that this act of altruistic leadership planted along ago became a reminder for me to stay alert, in tune to the needs of others. I hope you stay with me on this journey, add your comments and altruistic leader citing. We all would benefit from your experiences.


Next Blog: A Leadership Trinity: A cord of three strands are not easily broken. Three executive who came together to surround me with comfort, conviction, and care!