Breaking Down Walls: Leonard’s Journey Out of His Shell

[Tasnim Hassan]

When I first joined BRED as Documentation Officer one month ago, I couldn’t help but notice one of my collogues Mr. Leonard who is working as HR and Admin officer at BRED for last 3 months. He was quiet—really quiet. Not in a moody way, just someone who seemed totally comfortable on his own, even in a busy office. He’d stay at his desk, barely a word to anyone, and honestly, he looked like he had no problem staying that way. But after learning about the SALT approach, I started to wonder if I could try it out with Leonard. It felt like maybe he just needed a nudge, a little bit of encouragement to break out of that shell. So, I decided to give it a shot and see what happened.

But the more I saw him, the more I wondered what his story was. One day, I started chatting with him—small things, like “Hey, how’s it going?” and “How was your weekend?” Little did I know, these tiny exchanges would set us off on a journey of connection. I decided to use the SALT approach with Leonard: Stimulate, Appreciate, Listen, and Transfer. It’s a social work technique, but more than that, it’s a way of being present for someone.

 At first, it was clear Leonard wasn’t used to this level of interest in his world. But gradually, our chats grew into real conversations. He began to share bits of his life with me. I learned that Leonard had lost his father at his young age. His mother, a hardworking single mother, often had to be away for work purposes. So, growing up as an only child, he got used to solitude. It was him, his phone, and video games. He didn’t have many friends, and he’d just built a life around his own company.

I kept our conversations going, sometimes even stepping out of the office setting—a lunch here, a stroll in the park there. Slowly, Leonard began to open up. He even started sharing his thoughts, his challenges, and, over time, he confided some things that were clearly weighing on him. Then one day, I stayed home sick, and something amazing happened: Leonard reached out to see how I was doing! It may sound small, but for Leonard, this was huge. He’d gone from avoiding interaction to initiating it, showing genuine care.

The most surprising moment, however, occurred during our recent field trip to Bera Upazila in Pabna. There was Leonard, chatting up the locals, laughing with colleagues, and even cracking jokes with the team. I remember just watching him and thinking, “Is this the same Leonard who once barely looked up from his desk?” He was sharing, connecting, and asking for help without a second thought—even from junior staff.

Watching Leonard grow this way has been a reminder of just how much a little connection can change someone. Through SALT, we built a bond that helped him step out of his world and let others in. And maybe, in a way, he showed me a few things about friendship too. As much as I’ve seen him grow, he’s taught me just as much. Leonard found a spark for connecting with people nowadays. He’s enjoying engaging with the community, people, friends and family and wants to be part of something bigger—it’s amazing to see how far he’s come.

 

[Tasnim Hassan]

Thank you! SALT truly brings out the best in people. I'm glad Leonard's story resonated with you!

[Rituu B. Nanda]

How much potential each person has, SALT can help bring that out. Wonderful blog, Tasneem. Its great to know Leonard.