It was a party.

Not just any party, but a ‘fairy party’. The occasion was the fourth birthday of my godchild Jordan. It had been her call and fairy theme it was to be.

Now that was fine, except for the only boyfriend invited to the auspicious occasion.

Fairies and boys aren’t usually compatible. However, holding back on the fairy costume was not this young man’s style and in he strode, resplendent in his own Tinkerbell outfit to confidently take his place amongst all the other fairies. I think even they recognised something of just how courageous (and risky) this act was, for in time he may live to regret it, given the numerous video cameras present.

It was a fairy party to be proud of and apart from the castle cake that was demolished quicker than one could say ‘Genghis Khan’, there were wishes to be granted from cake-faced fairies with magic wands. It was during the magical chaos that ensued that I witnessed a special stardust moment involving the young man and Jordan.

The host fairy was sitting on a little chair when our intrepid male fairy decided that he wanted it.

‘May I have the chair, please?’ he asked, impressing all who witnessed the request with his polite and respectful tone. After all it was the main fairy he was dealing with here, something he was astute enough to recognise. Jordan obligingly got up, gave him the chair and looked around to consider who might require further wishes granted. Having walked a few paces with the chair in tow, the young man paused, turned around and said to Jordan, ‘Thank you for standing up’, then proceeded to make his way to wherever fairies and their chairs go.

It was a wonderful example of child logic translated into action. Almost as if what had impressed him was not the act of surrendering the chair, but the fact that Jordan first had to stand up in order to make it possible. There was the true act to applaud – not the surrender, but the standing.

Leaders in making their ‘requests’ – something which leaders are apt to do – often fail to recognise the ‘standing’ that was required to ensure that the request was fulfilled.

Thank you for standing is not something that should be confined to fairy parties but something leaders should get accustomed to saying more often.

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