Last week I traveled to Philadelphia and Newark to help supervisory and managerial personnel further their leadership skills to impact their workplaces. In one of these sessions, a young man made the comment, “I only supervise three people. I don’t see where I can have much impact. We are really pretty insignificant in the organization.”
He was comparing himself to others in the room that led larger departments and were “more important” in his perspective. He was also focused on what he saw as a limitation not an opportunity.
I simply told him to “Do for one what you wish you could do for all.”
That concept provides purpose regardless of our role, organization size, or status in the organization or community. That concept also directs us to ask the question, “What can I do.”
His demeanor changed immediately. When we took his focus from comparison to purpose, from limitation to opportunity, and from what he couldn’t do to what he could do, his entire perspective of his job changed.
I met with him during a break and he commented that he never thought about the opportunity in that light before. He went as far to tell me that it was worth his attendance for that one concept, and that it would change his entire approach to supervision.
That issue takes place every day. It takes place in organizations, communities, non-profits, households, teams, and many other places. That issue is the feeling that we can’t be impactful or influential. We compare, see limitations, and experience obstacles that lead us to feel insignificant.
When we quit comparing and focus on the one in front of us, our perspective changes. When we can embrace the concept of “doing for one what we wish we could do for all”, we no longer accept insignificance.
It’s so easy to point out what others should be doing and just complain about circumstances. It’s easy to sit on the sidelines and express discontent. However, there is another way.
What if we changed our focus to “In light of these circumstances, what can I do”? That question in conjunction to “Doing for one what we wish we could do for all” changes everything. Our perspective is no longer focused on obstacles and limitations but now on opportunity and impact.
When we focus on the “one” in front of us, we see opportunity, not obstacle.
I think back to the life of Jesus noted in the New Testament. Regardless of how many people were with him, how demanding the situation may have been, or where he was walking toward his next destination, He always had time for “one”. He was never too busy or too consumed for an individual.
His example reminds me of those two related concepts:
· “Do for one what you wish you could do for all”
· “What can I do”
Doug equips leaders to make organizations better. He has two leadership books available on all online platforms. Whether you are looking for a speaker for your next event or a leadership coach to develop people and build an authentic team, contact Doug at doug.strickel@gmail.com and learn more about PLUS.
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