This morning I sat down to write and decided to delay getting started because my dog, Asia, was full of spunk and wanted to play with me. This in itself is a wonder because she is in her 16th year and has a multitude of health ailments that limit her activity and require daily care. What I realized as we played was that every day she is with me is a special moment, a moment worth stopping to recognize and appreciate.
“Life isn’t a matter of milestones, but of moments.”
– Rose Kennedy
It is all too easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of doing. Get one thing done and move to the next. Cross things off the to-do list. Meet deadlines. Implement a new technology, launch a new program, lower costs, increase revenues. All of these things require the collective time and effort of people. People who also have a life filled with their own challenges and goals. People who find fulfillment in things beyond their day jobs – and hopefully within the work they do. Life is about dynamically living and experiencing; it is filled with little moments in time that are special and worth remembering.
In passing conversation, people will often share personal experiences that they are looking forward to or hold special meaning. As a leader, I try to make note of them – even those that may be months away. Memory is flawed and often less than accurate, so when I hear about these upcoming experiences, I pause to put a reminder in my calendar. This allows me to take note and reconnect when the moment arrives. Sometimes it’s an anniversary or birthday, other times it’s the wedding of an adult child. It could be the arrival of a new pet or a visit with a lifelong friend. Perhaps it’s an achievement such as a certificate, degree, or citizenship. Whatever it is, it is important enough to be shared and it is important enough to be cherished – even by way of a simple acknowledgement.
Leading isn’t all about performance goals and financial outcomes. It demands care for and connection with people on a human level. Listen and take note of what is important to people. Then be sure to reach out and cherish the moment with them.
– Melissa Law
