You “Get What You Give”
Yes, we have all heard this many
times but have you thought about it in terms of leadership and how you engage everyone
from new people you meet at a restaurant to your team, and of course, your
partner? And, what possible
difference it makes in the reaction, willingness to partner, or frankly,
other’s interest in even standing next to you or saying hello? Have you ever walked into a room
and said “hello” to someone only to get a cold stare or no response at all? What if it happens a second time? What starts to go through your head and
what do you start to imagine about that person, your relationship to them or
what must be going on? Do you have a “gut” reaction? Of course
you do and it makes your automatically hold back in thoughts you may have or
even be very energetic or not in the conversation. What energy are you giving off or are you getting from
others?
So, I ask you, as a
leader because each of you are, how do you engage? How do you engage your teams? Is it “just the facts sir or madam,” or
“ here’s the “wood chopping we have to do so let’s get going” or do you engage
some people on the team (those you know the best with warmth and maybe even a
joke about the most recent activities with them while leaving others standing
awkwardly nearby without any engagement?
If you are aware of yourself and your behavior, I guarantee you have
done all of these examples. We all have unintentionally. However, the warning on this is in days
of needing new ideas and innovation to come from anywhere, this type of
behavior will ensure one thing…it will ensure that you never see or hear from
those you are not authentically engaging and, ironically, enough, they are
likely the very people that have the keys to your future….or not!
The best advice I ever got from someone
and I still remember their eyes as they told me this diamond of a gem! “Treat
every person you meet on the street or at work or in the grocery store line as
if they are your long lost friend vs. stranger and notice how fast they become
your best friend!” Truly beautiful
advice and that of a true leader also!
So let’s all get to meeting our long lost best friends and leaving a
true mark on their lives regardless of whether we ever see them again or
not! It costs nothing, in fact;
typically it breaks up an otherwise mundane trip here or boring wait in
line. And, my guess is you will
leave the experience feeling happier yourself having given someone else the
greatest gift you could have given them, the respect of being noticed to exist!
Give the gift of power to others and get so much more back yourself!
It’s the simple things that matter!
And, it will be the simple things that have power!
Posted
Apr 22 2009, 07:50 AM
by
Julie Gilbert