I wrote this article a few years ago when my focus was on bringing your whole self to your work. I now understand that it is the work environment that allows us to feel like we can bring who we truly are to our workplace. When we feel safe to be ourselves, we can make a difference in the lives of those we serve and ultimately the business for which we work.
As business leaders, creating workplaces that are people centered deepens employee’s connection to the business, decreasing the likelihood of them leaving and increasing their motivation to serve others, ultimately benefitting your business.
Read this true story and let me know of other examples where people are making a difference just by being themselves.
What Does It Look Like to Love Your job?
Since I am on a mission to empower people to love the life they are creating which includes how they show up at work I tend to notice when people are doing something different. I recently experienced two individuals who are making a difference to the customers they serve by showing up in their unique way in their job.
Recently, I was travelling to the LAX airport from my hotel in a cab. My driver was an older gentleman. As we were proceeding to the airport we made small talk. He then asked me a very profound question. “What do you think it means to be a good cab driver”? Interesting question. Of course I answered based on my perspective. “To know the community, to tell neat stories about the location and of course, not to get lost.” He said I was close but try again. Huh, what does it mean to be a good cab driver? I then came up with a superficial answer of good customer service, friendly, yadda, yadda, yadda. He agreed that was part of it but it wasn’t quite the answer yet. Kenny, my driver, then asked if I gave up. Ya, I guess. I had nothing else. He said a good driver keeps the roads safe for everyone. Getting the passengers to their destination safely is his key goal every time he picks up someone new. How could I be so blind? He then said he always wears a suit. Not just a jacket but a suit. I did notice this right away when he picked me up. Kenny my driver, who keeps people safe, wears a suit out of respect for his customers. Oh and did I mention, he has been driving cab for 30 years? Wearing a suit every day? He then proceeded to tell me that his apartment complex is dealing with some kind of bug issue that you can’t see but they make you itchy. I tipped him a little extra for the special shampoo he needs to buy.
As I was going through security at the airport, the very first agent I met was speaking in a game show host voice. He was announcing to the anxious game show attendants (us passengers) what we get to win when we show our boarding pass and ID. Here is a guy who takes a somewhat anxious or monotonous situation and keeps it light and fun. LAX airport is somewhat of a crazy
zoo and this guy is not treating the travellers like criminals or like herding cattle, but like contestants. How awesome is that? How do you think that makes people feel who may be nervous or scared? Do you think that would have an impact on their travelling experience?
The moral of these two stories? No matter what your job or if it is in front of customers or within an organization, you can bring your true self that can make a difference in someone’s life. What can you do to make a difference for someone else? Kenny the driver was showing his values of respect by wearing a suit and understanding the importance of his job. People rely on him with
their lives. Game Show Host guy was just bringing his fun personality to work.
As business leaders, what can we do to create work environments where employees feel safe to be themselves? Allowing employees the freedom to be who they are while serving customers will make a lasting impact on your customers and your business.