I’ve been reading a book by Gary Collins that deals with coaching from a Christian perspective and applies well to our ongoing discussion of leadership. Here is a little story Dr. Collins tells which I believe should speak to all of us.
Early in their training, a group of nursing school students was given an unexpected quiz. The students did their best to answer the questions, but everyone stopped at the last one: “What is the first name of the person who cleans the school?”
Surely this was some kind of joke. All of the students had seen the cleaning lady. She was tall, dark-haired, and in her fifties, but why would anyone be expected to know her name? When time was up, the students handed in their papers. They all had left the last question blank. Before the class ended, one student asked if this question would count toward the quiz grade.
“Absolutely,” replied the professor. “In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. All deserve your attention and care, even if the only thing you do is smile and say hello.”
The next day, everyone in the class had learned that the cleaning lady’s name was Dorothy. Maybe some of those students also learned a lesson that would stick as they embarked on their careers: It’s important to be aware of people.
Wow! This hits hard, doesn’t it? Think through the people that you come in contact with every day. Do you know their names? Do you know anything about them other than what they do for you superficially? As leaders, I believe that this is a vital lesson for those of us who aspire to be the best leader we can be. People matter! Showing that we believe that requires that we take the time to demonstrate it in tangible ways, beginning with knowing people’s names. Think about the people you will come in contact with today. Show them their value by greeting them by name. It will do them, and you, a world of good.
Lead well.