Archive for January, 2011
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Empathy Matters
We all encounter little catastrophes every day in our busy lives. For me it was nearly missing an important flight today—I had to get to the Distinguished Advisor Workshop to speak in London tomorrow—and along the way, I managed to miss all opportunities to eat. A wonderful hotel receptionist went that extra mile for me when I arrived closed to midnight. Completely unexpected, a plate of pastries and fruit arrived despite the fact that all restaurants were closed, a gesture out of pure empathy for my growling stomach!
This young woman made my day. Empathy matters. . .a lot. Her gesture was a teachable moment for me. She reminded me that it only takes a little bit of kindness and civility to add value to relationships—even with complete strangers. She turned my initial "note to self" from "better not stay here again" to "I absolutely want to come back again".
This young girl was well trained, competent at the task she performed in checking me in and helping with my wake up call. But much more than that, she became memorable to me with her lovely response to my plight. I won't forget her, or the wonderful young man who so carefully chose and delivered my late night morsels to my door.
It's Your Money; Your Life. You have a chance to excel every day in your work, and really make a difference in someone's life when you choose to walk a mile in their shoes. That's the difference between good and great!