The day had started early. Now the last scheduled meeting was wrapping up near sunset. My last comment was to put leave request for the team on the table. The context to my request was a commitment across the company to protect the company’s reputation. There is an inverse relationship between how junior the individual is in the organization and their level of passion and intensity. In short, the more junior the person was the more committed they are to protecting the company from the decisions and choices of its senior managers or outsiders.
“To the company’s credit, there is an admirable level of passion and commitment to protecting the company from itself. While I respect that, I would ask for help in finding solutions and getting to the outcome we are striving for.”
The first responders were anything but encouraging. I heard about aloof managers. I was schooled in the culture that dominated the ranks. I listened to all the reasons that things were are they are. I even heard stories about the difficulties others had in getting things done.
What I did not hear was anyone willing to help or even personally do anything differently!
I walked away reminded of the following.
The actions we take tell others far more about who and what we are than we realize. When “mountain goats climb about the cliffs; [and] badgers burrow among the rocks,” (Psalm 104.18) we know it reflects the nature of who and what the animal is. When we respond and put our choices into action, we do the same.
In times of stress and uncertainty, there is a natural flight to self-preservation. Without commentary on right, wrong, good or bad, the observation is that one tends to do what is best for one’s self, especially when times are stressful or uncertain.
Reaching outside one’s self to help another takes courage. For many, it is not natural. It is rarely easy.
I want to make a difference. Doing so requires hope, faith, courage, and actions. To be sustainable, others must choose to be involved.
