Escaping the Scrum
If you have been around young children much you’ll know that
one of their first organized athletic activities is soccer. At the ages of four or five, their attention
is centralized. That is to say
that the tendency of the young girls and boys is to gravitate towards the
crowd, whatever place on the field has attracted the largest concentration of
bodies. Soccer, at this stage,
more resembles a rugby scrum sans the rugged physical contact.
Amidst the conglomeration of chaos there always seems to be a
kid or two who coyly slips away from the magnetic force of the crowd almost influenced
by a sense that causes them to linger or wait. Occasionally, when the ball squirts out from the scrum the intrepid
ones find themselves with an unimpeded path to their opponents goal. They score! Even at such a tender age a certain intuition, an
indefinable something, begins to have impact.
It was said of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky that what made
him arguably the greatest his sport had ever known is that he had the unique
ability “to skate to where he thought the puck would be.” While unparalleled basketball
superstars in their own right, both Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson brought
special charismatic leadership skills that elevated their respective team’s
synergy.
Arguably there will never be another Gretzky, Jordan, or
Magic. In fact most of us likely congregated
around the scrum in our youth; perhaps still do, yet have an earnest desire to
make impact in our world, places of work, neighborhoods, or even just our
families. How do we?
Here are just a few thoughts:
·
Do what
you say you are going to do. I
am convinced that the odds of business and personal success multiply
dramatically by just this one credo.
It remains perplexing, however, how often businesses don’t follow up
with customers, potential clients don’t show up for appointments, and an
enterprise is closed even though their website hours would indicate they are
open. Last week a potential client
scheduled a meeting seeking my coaching assistance to ameliorate frustration at
being denied “a seat at the table.”
She did not show for the appointment. In order to get a seat at the table you must first be at the
table.
·
Understand
the needs of others. Whether
it is a customer, a spouse, a child, a friend, or a new acquaintance, learn
their story. Ask open-ended
questions that beget more than a yes/no/fine answer. Repeat back what you have heard them say. Clarify.
·
The
solution may be beyond your expertise. There is a fascination with those who possess expert
knowledge. There is an even
greater appeal with subject matter experts who have mastered “condensed
intellect,” those who educate with an economy of words and leave us hungering
for more. Any of us, though, can
confess we don’t have the answer.
Admiration is greater for those who admit that, but then to learn the
solution.
·
Admit
your mistakes; accept the admittance.
When you’re wrong say it.
If someone has the humility to admit it, forgive them. There are few things worse than we are transparent
with our error, only to have someone else gloat over it and remind us of it.
·
Exceed
expectations. Guys, if we’re
cooking dinner for our spouses include some flowers with the table
setting. Gals, you treat for the
dinner date and movie sometime.
Supervisors, how about a spontaneous break for ice cream in the middle
of the afternoon work shift?
Neighbors, prepare an extra batch for dinner tonight to deliver to
someone who may be ill or “shut in” down the street. Millennials, what about a technology lesson for that same
person?
·
Time. Many of us are overscheduled and each
day’s greatest challenge is to stay on task and complete our “To Do”
lists. Yet, someone who just
walked through the doors of your store needs to be listened to more than sold
something. Your teenager may
simply want you to watch a TV show with them. A long-time friend would love to hear the sound of your
voice and to share a few laughs; call them.
You are unique.
There is no one else who has the ability to console those in your circle
as well as you do, to be a good friend to your particular friends, to reach out
to the downtrodden in a special way.
Fred Rogers, AKA Mr. Rogers said, “If you could only sense
how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be
to the people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every
meeting with another person.”
Get away from the scrum. The clear path is to the side. The goal is ahead, waiting for you to score.
The Seed Sower
Great article Kurt - I especially appreciate the part about doing what you say you're going to do. It is sometimes the simple advice that is the most profound. Thanks for the wisdom and I'll keep an eye out for the next article.
ReplyDeleteParker, I appreciate your reading it and your positive comments.
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