Criticism/Flowers for Homecoming

You don't have to be in a position of leadership very long until you come face to face with criticism. Sometimes it may come as a result of what you have done or maybe failed to do. Regardless of the circumstances it is very difficult to be the object of criticism, just or unjust. Such was the case in the mid 1980s when AHS had bought flowers, corsages, and boutonnieres for football homecoming.

The details surrounding this event continue to remind me that criticism is sometimes hard to swallow and leaders need to confront it productively.

Larry Russell was our student council sponsor. Within his job description was the responsibility of purchasing of all materials and supplies for homecoming. He did what he was supposed to do by taking bids. He awarded the bid to a business that was outside of our small town community of Adamsville, Tennessee. At the time there were more than two flower shops in our part of the county but they did not present the lowest bid. So Mr. Russell awarded the bid to The Flower Box located in the town of Selmer, Tennessee. I signed the purchase order verifying that he had secured three bids and was recommending that the school go with the lowest one. 

Little did I know that a storm was starting to brew. The community flower shops were upset that the school went to another town to purchase the flowers, ribbons, corsages, and boutonnieres for homecoming. They contacted me with their complaints and wanted me to attend the next Adamsville Business Association meeting to discuss my perceived failure to acknowledge the local florists. I agreed to go. That day a large crowd gathered for the meeting. 

In preparation, I asked our assistant principal to list all of the sponsors of our school yearbook and school newspaper. I did not want to subject Mr. Russell to the criticism of this meeting so I decided to attend it alone. We had many people who were in attendance that day from out of town because of an area-wide celebration of Buford Pusser, a local legend.

The meeting started with some general business; then the direction shifted toward two concerned ladies who represented one of the local flower shops. They talked about how they had supported the school for several years and now, when the school has the opportunity to support them, we take our business out of town. Their emotional presentation was slowed only when I was called upon to explain our action.

I was quick to present the data collected about the yearbook and school newspaper sponsors. Only about 40% of our sponsors were from our community. The vast majority came from outsiders. I stated, "We cannot have these two school projects (yearbook and newspaper) if it is contingent on only local individuals and businesses. Furthermore, we cannot ask outsiders to support these two projects without giving them the fair opportunity to do business with the school."

It was at this time that Julian Bomar, a local restaurant owner, spoke up and said,  "As long as the school gives us the opportunity to bid on its purchases we should not complain if we don't have the lowest bid." That brought an end to the discussion as Mr. Julian's comments slowly sank into the thinking in the room and the highly-charged atmosphere abated.

I made my way back to the school, remembering the lesson that was presented by Steve Flatt at a basketball clinic where I was an instructor. As this former college basketball player talked to about two hundred young campers, he said that we should practice three things in our reaction to criticism:

1. Do not fear criticism.

2. Take the good criticism and use it; let the bad go in one ear and out the other.

3. Don't let your opinion of the critic increase or decrease just because of the criticism.

Though it is sometimes challenging, I have tried to practice these three suggestions throughout the years. The two ladies later became friends of mine. You cannot make your critic your enemy especially if you are going to lead. There is a time to avoid or disregard our criticism, but this was not the time. I was convinced that going to the meeting was the thing to do, whether or not I was under attack. As Kevin Elko, a sports psychologist, once said," Always run toward the roar!"  

Remember, I believe we are all leaders regardless of our position.