Career sound bite yesterday

jeff noel sitting in IZOD Center
Much of life is spent waiting for someone else to go first

 

Career sound bite yesterday:

You go first.

One of the biggest, most overlooked opportunities in business?

Celebrating the success of others.

We know this, yet secretly want everyone else to pay us a compliment first.

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Being Brave Means Paying Attention To Others

Should the customer see this message? Some say yes, some say no.

Paying attention to others requires us to be brave, because we can notice things they can’t. And they can notice things about us we can’t. We have to decide how brave we should be in our observation of their blind spots. To them, our sharing may seem ridiculous and hypocritical. And they must be cautious of the same.

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Been Tested For This Virus Yet?

Large Piles Of Nice Things Unsaid
Large Piles Of Nice Things Unsaid

Yesterday I referenced an (obscene) infectious virus that is plaguing the world, the corporate world especially.

It’s insidious and devastating.

My guess right now, at this very moment, you’re confused and wondering what I’m talking about.

That’s fair. And perfect.

It’s the perfect storm, isn’t it? This pervasive lack of recognition amongst people everywhere. The sad thing is, now that you know what I’m talking about, you are shaking you head, “Yep, he’s right”.

“What to do?”, is a question you may not have an answer for. But you know me, I do.

The answer?

Go to the far end of the sick world, and be the cure. Make it YOUR daily habit to say nice things to people.

You won’t win any employee of the month awards, but you will be living with integrity. Isn’t that enough?

Hugged Your Employees Lately?

Group Hug
Group Hug

Ever been an employee on the front line most of, or all your life?

Leaders, do you have any idea what it’s like to spend your career working for people like you?

Your employees complain about you as much as you complain about them being high-maintenance, needy, and whiney. It’s simply a fact of life and any amount of denial is ignorant.

Most leaders are good at never letting their employees see or hear this. And employees are good at keeping their secrets too.

Quite amusing actually, because neither one thinks the other knows.

Maybe we simply learn to tune it out the same way we slowly, steadily tune out our declining health, and fail to ever make transformational changes to reverse the slow, steady, and sure signs.

We medicate ourselves with our work, with our misery, and we flock to people who share our pain and frustration.

When maybe, we should find that emotional strength we found buried deep inside us that was rediscovered in the days following 9/11.

Maybe then we could justify hugging our employees.  Maybe then transformational change could begin and a new era of teamwork and respect could have wings of hope.