You Get What You Give: Treat Everyone Like Your Long Lost Best Friend!!

Yes, we have all heard this many times, but have you thought about it in terms of leadership and how you engage everyone from new people you meet at a restaurant to your team, and of course, your partner? And, what possible difference it makes in the reaction, willingness to partner, or frankly, other’s interest in even standing next to you or saying hello? Have you ever walked into a room and said “hello” to someone only to get a cold stare or no response at all? What if it happens a second time? What starts to go through your head and what you start to imagine about that person, your relationship to them or what must be going on? Do you have a “gut” reaction? Of course you do, and it makes you automatically hold back in thoughts you may have or even be very energetic or not in the conversation. What energy are you giving off or are you getting from others?

So, I ask you, as a leader because each of you are one, how do you engage? How do you engage your teams? Is it “just the facts sir or madam,” or “ here’s the wood chopping we have to do so let’s get going” or do you engage some people on the team (those you know the best with warmth and maybe even a joke about the most recent activities with them while leaving others standing awkwardly nearby without any engagement? If you are aware of yourself and your behavior, I guarantee you have done all of these examples. We all have unintentionally. However, the warning on this is in days of needing new ideas and innovation to come from anywhere, this type of behavior will ensure one thing… it will ensure that you never see or hear from those you are not authentically engaging and, ironically, enough, they are likely the very people that have the keys to your future!

The best advice I ever got from someone, and I still remember their eyes as they told me this diamond of a gem: “Treat every person you meet on the street or at work or in the grocery store line as if they are your long lost friend vs. stranger and notice how fast they become your best friend!” Truly beautiful advice and that of a true leader! So, let’s all get to meeting our long lost best friends and leaving a true mark on their lives, regardless of whether we ever see them again or not! It costs nothing, in fact; typically, it breaks up an otherwise mundane trip here or boring wait in line. And, my guess is you will leave the experience feeling happier yourself having given someone else the greatest gift you could have given them, the respect of being noticed! Give the gift of power to others and get so much more back yourself!

It’s the simple things that matter! And it will be the simple things that have power!

By Julie Gilbert