My client and I were wandering around their production floor this past friday when a “kairos” moment struck like a bolt of lightning.
Unexpectedly.
We were heading back toward the CEO’s office when I happened to notice Steve was grabbing some boxes nearby. We said hello and exchanged pleasantries for a moment or two. As we stood there and the conversation took a couple other directions, I “bowed out” and became an observer of my client and Steve.
They had a great exchange. They talked about performance, looked at performance charts, reviewed a couple complex pieces that they both seemed extremely proud of, and a variety of other work topics. As we prepared to leave Steve, for some reason, began to tell us this story.
I think it began with a question from my client but I’m not sure…
Steve had been asked by someone that had missed our practice session to fill her in on the practice details. This should be interesting I thought to myself. What would Steve recall from all the brilliant ground we had covered together? Turns out, not much.
You see, Steve’s day had been interrupted. He had received a call about a personal emergency during the day. Immediately my client assured him that was normal. No big deal. We wouldn’t expect you to remember anything about practice when something’s going on at home. Funny thing, that wasn’t the interruption that “seared” Steve. That was NOT the interruption which caused him to lose his focus. That was NOT the interruption, as Steve recalled that he couldn’t stop thinking about.
Here it is.
Steve’s interruption, that distracted his attention that day, came from none other than the man I was with. His boss. The CEO. You see, the exercise that I wrote about in the blog before, WAS the interruption. Turns out, as Steve told the story, that he ran into my client, his boss, following that exercise. The CEO had just visited Steve’s area and had asked the question “how can I help” to Steve’s unsuspecting team. AND, the CEO had been blown away. Steve’s team was clicking on all cylinders. Everyone was doing their job and doing it well.
So where oh where is the interruption? The big kairos kablewy. You know, “the thunder and lightning machine.” The magical “aha” where something outlandish, innovative, incredible, and, of course, performance enhancing, is revealed from whence we least expected…
Here it is.
CEO and Steve collided just outside our practice facility. Steve was jolted unexpectedly by these two words. The CEO smiled, told Steve where he had been and then jolted him. He hit him with the unexpected, the uncommon, the most amazing piece of performance feedback this side of Heaven. Two words.
“HIGH FIVE.”
Do you realize the power of giving thanks?
Do you understand how little it takes to catch people doing something right?
When was the last time you “seared” your team with “give me five?”
When was the last time you “seared” them by giving them a “piece of your mind?”
Why is that “piece” so often NEGATIVE?
Why?
Why?
Why?
Tell me more…
BUILT TO LEAD 