“Doodlepop.”
“Said Cat.”
Sometimes the smallest, most inconsequential things become … something meaningful.
About nine years ago, we briefly rented a house before buying the one we’re currently in. The rental agreement included a clause about “damage caused by said cat.”
We’ve referred to Flicker as “said cat” ever since.
Not quite eight years ago, we took our then-puppy for a walk around the city square. A passing woman tapped her on the head and said, “Doodlepop!”
We’ve referred to Bonnie as “doodlepop” ever since.
I could come up with examples from my professional life as well, but these are more fun.
Point? You never know your impact on other people.
You only know their impact on you.
Yes, sometimes someone will tell you, but I wouldn’t recognize either the landlord or that woman if I fell over them.
Leaders need to remember this. We all need to remember this. Because it applies to both the positive – as in the inside jokes we now have about our two critters — as well as to the negative — as in things I can remember that I have to consciously choose not to ruminate on.
In times of change, we all get anxious and tense. People remember what you say and how you act, even if it’s only in passing. Your teams take note of how you handle situations, and will use your example to set their own standards for behavior — and that means positive (I want to be like that!) and negative (yikes, I hope I’m never like that!).
Even strangers in the street are surprisingly observant.
This is what I mean when I say we’re all leaders, regardless of the official role or title we may have.
Think about it.
Leadership is an endless gray area, and leading through change and its inevitable resistance is even fuzzier. I’m here to help leaders do change better. Drop me a note through my contact form and we’ll set a time to have a conversation – not a sales pitch!