HEARD
Of all the senses sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, which one is most important? Which one affirms that we exist? If people see you, do you exists? If they touch you, smell you, do you exists? What if they hear you? Do they acknowledge what you think and say? Supermodels are people who are seen but not heard, do they exists? Are they real? Besides their likeness on a magazine cover, is there any other proof they exists? They are seen but not heard.
In the world of work, its seems to me that one of the most important factors of happiness is that you are heard. Did someone acknowledge the work and research that went into the project that was cancelled? Did they explain to you that they appreciate and recognize the work you did and do? Do they acknowledge and value said work, did they even look at it before making a decision. Did they mean in, or is it just lip service?
Of all the actions you can take towards another human being, which is the most important? To me, its when they give me their time? Time is the most precious commodity we have, it is our one and only finite resource, we can’t make more of it, we can’t buy it, we can’t stop it, we can’t steal it, it keeps marching on, and as you read this, it is still marching on. So thank you, for you time, for acknowledging this message.
When someone gives you their time, they give you something precious, when they give you their time, attention, focus, only see you they give you the ultimate gift, a recognition that for that instance you exist to them. They prove you exists, did things, acted, moved, whatever, they acknowledge that you are valued. Each and every person who seeks to do anything great will need the help of others. To truly motivate them over time it will take more than sharing the same ideas and philosophy it will take sharing and giving freely of your time.
I had a manager, who would subject himself to public scrutiny every week for 30 minutes. It was the only meeting during the whole week, he wasn’t late for, he was present for, and he gave all 70 of us something more precious than our paycheck, he gave us him time. To answer our questions, to have a dialogue, to recognize that we exist, that we toil, that we struggle and we are working on building something. He was and still is one of my favorites. My first manager was shy, and her way was always 1:1. You could pop into her office and not matter what she was doing, everything was dropped, she gave you her undivided attention, shut off her phone, turned off her monitor and during those few seconds or minutes, you had her undivided attention. Both models work regardless of who you are and extrovert that likes to be in groups or an introvert that likes to be alone. Both were amazing managers and both gave something precious freely.
Next time someone drops by your desks asks you a question… Give them a gift, give them your undivided attention.