Today's act of kindness was really the completion of something I started last night. I mentioned yesterday that I was consulting with a company regarding their corporate culture. Part of the process involved a large number of individual meetings with various members of their staff. The meetings were scheduled at 30 minute intervals and, as you might imagine, it was difficult to keep everyone on schedule all day long. It took a great deal of coordination and plenty of adjustments on the part of my administrative contact at the client. She did a fabulous job keeping us on track and I wanted to show her my appreciation.                      

     Though I certainly let her know verbally, I thought that a small extra gesture would be meaningful. Of course, I was at my hotel thinking about this at 8:30 last night! I decided to get her a small bouquet of flowers that I could deliver first thing today when I would be resuming my work. It required a little help and a bit of driving to eventually find a place where I could buy fresh flowers at 9:00 on a weekday night, but I did it. When I arrived at the client's office at 8:00 this morning, I gave her the flowers. She was certainly surprised, and quite appreciative. I know the extra effort I went through to make it happen was well worth it. While I didn't do it for this reason, I also know that she'll work that much harder to help me out in the future as well.

 Today's act of kindness was really the completion of something I started last night. I mentioned yesterday that I was consulting with a company regarding their corporate culture. Part of the process involved a large number of individual meetings with various members of their staff. The meetings were scheduled at 30 minute intervals and, as you might imagine, it was difficult to keep everyone on schedule all day long. It took a great deal of coordination and plenty of adjustments on the part of my administrative contact at the client. She did a fabulous job keeping us on track and I wanted to show her my appreciation.                      

     Though I certainly let her know verbally, I thought that a small extra gesture would be meaningful. Of course, I was at my hotel thinking about this at 8:30 last night! I decided to get her a small bouquet of flowers that I could deliver first thing today when I would be resuming my work. It required a little help and a bit of driving to eventually find a place where I could buy fresh flowers at 9:00 on a weekday night, but I did it. When I arrived at the client's office at 8:00 this morning, I gave her the flowers. She was certainly surprised, and quite appreciative. I know the extra effort I went through to make it happen was well worth it. While I didn't do it for this reason, I also know that she'll work that much harder to help me out in the future as well.

     I was in Chicago today doing some work with a company that wanted to improve its organizational culture.  The first part of my job was to assess the current state and I did this by meeting individually with a cross section of employees to understand their various perspectives on the topic.  As I sat with one senior manager, he explained to me some of the issues they had around communication.  To help me understand, he gave me an example of a typical problem situation and how he would handle it with an employee.

     After listening to the manager's approach, I asked if he was open to considering another way of responding.  Seeing that he was, I suggested a much kinder way of dealing with the problem.  It was a way that showed more respect for the employee and had a far greater probability of achieving the manager's objective.  As I explained this approach, the manager's eyes lit up and he was quick to acknowledge that he could see how my approach would be way better for him - he just had never thought of it before.  He had been so conditioned to work from an authoritative, command and control mentality that it never occurred to him there was another way.  More importantly, he could readily see how a kinder approach could actually achieve better results.

     I was in Chicago today doing some work with a company that wanted to improve its organizational culture.  The first part of my job was to assess the current state and I did this by meeting individually with a cross section of employees to understand their various perspectives on the topic.  As I sat with one senior manager, he explained to me some of the issues they had around communication.  To help me understand, he gave me an example of a typical problem situation and how he would handle it with an employee.

     After listening to the manager's approach, I asked if he was open to considering another way of responding.  Seeing that he was, I suggested a much kinder way of dealing with the problem.  It was a way that showed more respect for the employee and had a far greater probability of achieving the manager's objective.  As I explained this approach, the manager's eyes lit up and he was quick to acknowledge that he could see how my approach would be way better for him - he just had never thought of it before.  He had been so conditioned to work from an authoritative, command and control mentality that it never occurred to him there was another way.  More importantly, he could readily see how a kinder approach could actually achieve better results.

    Today was another travel day and another good chance to simply look for opportunities to be courteous and helpful to those around me.  As I've noted before, traveling often includes a certain amount of stress and hassle for most people - from getting through security to struggling with bags to trying to make connections, to all the other logistical challenges that have to be negotiated.  When I just relax about it all and focus on being kind, the stress seems to literally melt away.

     None of my kindnesses were earth-shattering and, in fact, they might more readily be called simply being courteous.  I let someone go in front of me through security.  I was friendly to the TSA person even when they decided to open up my bag for closer screening.  I helped someone get their carryon luggage into the overhead bin.  I let someone go in front of me at the car rental office.  I slowed down to let a car that had started on the wrong road reverse direction and get onto the right road - without honking or cursing or thinking negatively of them . . . after all, it could easily have been me in that situation.

    Today was another travel day and another good chance to simply look for opportunities to be courteous and helpful to those around me.  As I've noted before, traveling often includes a certain amount of stress and hassle for most people - from getting through security to struggling with bags to trying to make connections, to all the other logistical challenges that have to be negotiated.  When I just relax about it all and focus on being kind, the stress seems to literally melt away.

     None of my kindnesses were earth-shattering and, in fact, they might more readily be called simply being courteous.  I let someone go in front of me through security.  I was friendly to the TSA person even when they decided to open up my bag for closer screening.  I helped someone get their carryon luggage into the overhead bin.  I let someone go in front of me at the car rental office.  I slowed down to let a car that had started on the wrong road reverse direction and get onto the right road - without honking or cursing or thinking negatively of them . . . after all, it could easily have been me in that situation.

 I knew that sooner or later this would happen.  I spent the better part of the day in bed with a fever and therefore had little opportunity to be among people where I could do an act of kindness.  Fortunately, in times like these I can fall back upon some old standbys that I can do from home.  This one was essentially a repeat of one I did last month, though it's a good one nonetheless.

 I knew that sooner or later this would happen.  I spent the better part of the day in bed with a fever and therefore had little opportunity to be among people where I could do an act of kindness.  Fortunately, in times like these I can fall back upon some old standbys that I can do from home.  This one was essentially a repeat of one I did last month, though it's a good one nonetheless.

     A few years ago, a couple of friends of mine created a truly amazing website to help facilitate connections between people who had needs and people who were willing to help.  The site is called Wish Upon A Hero (www.wishuponahero.com).  Amazingly, in that short amount of time, over 88,000 wishes have been granted!  Today I registered on the site and granted my first wish.

     A few years ago, a couple of friends of mine created a truly amazing website to help facilitate connections between people who had needs and people who were willing to help.  The site is called Wish Upon A Hero (www.wishuponahero.com).  Amazingly, in that short amount of time, over 88,000 wishes have been granted!  Today I registered on the site and granted my first wish.