We all have one! Keeps on pumping every minute of every day. Question is, how do we utilize our “heart” in our business life?
How would people who interact with you regularly score you on compassion? I am talking here about a blind survey that does not reveal identity. We have friends through church that are currently dealing with a life threatening situation. My wife and I have been to visit them in the hospital. It is simply to give moral support and allow them a safe space to unload their fears and concerns. Having experienced this type of life questioning event both personally and with fellow employees, we have an empathy for the pain – fear for the unknown future, that insecurity. We want to be there, just to be there.
Passion is another description often applied to “heart”. I would say the Eagles kept showing their passion for winning the Super Bowl. How many 4th downs did they “go for it”? It is so much easier to punt and try another time. Not the Eagles! They kept pushing themselves. There was a spirit of cooperation and example after example of “we are a team” in this together. Does your culture encourage the demonstration of passion daily in your business? Is there a team attitude (together everyone achieves more). Or do you have a solo attitude, make it or fail on your own?
Clients who come into our office regularly comment about the energy they sense. Everyone is polite – and focused. Each person conveys their passion or contribution to the ultimate success of the client which is encouraged, nurtured and observed by new hires. They comment there is something unique about the spirit in our office – passion!
Revisiting the heart pumping. If my heart has problems pumping systematically or out of rhythm – problems can follow. This is the same for a business. Determining your core competency, the ability to stay focused on the task at hand, and delivering timely accurate predictable results is vital!
Recently one of our vendors really missed in this area. We had given them two weeks to deliver legal contracts to complete work for very busy clients. Three days before scheduled delivery they informed us of a possible inability to deliver on a timely basis. In my view, this was an example of incompetency. I clearly expressed my unwillingness to accept their inadequacy to deliver. There were so many conference calls and additional expenses for us – that were not caused by me. I also have a high level of expectation (competency). Fortunately, because of the attention and follow through of a highly competent staff, the contracts arrived at 7:30 the morning of a pre-scheduled 10:00 am meeting. All went smoothly because many people scrambled.
A few days later my Chief Operating Officer and I collaborated drafting a very honest (not pointing finger) letter calling to attention an operational issue to the vendor. Within 24 hours of receipt of our letter, the head of the responsible department sent back a total acceptance of responsibility. No excuses, no finger pointing, no blame.
That to me demonstrated a core competency and admission of humanity. So three parts of the “heart” any human intentions are – compassion, passion, and core competency. May you be blessed with all three.
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