over the holiday, i read two great books – the starbucks experience: 5 principles for turning ordinary into extraordinary and you don’t need a title to be a leader: how anyone, anywhere, can make a positive difference.
in the leader book, one of the phrases that has stuck with me is “obligation or opportunity.” so many things in our routine, day-to-day tasks we often deem as obligation: returning emails, answering the phone, responding to messages, interruptions by colleagues…the list could go on forever. one of the ways we can lead (to positively influence) in our lives is by changing our perspective on those mundane things.
instead of looking at them as obligations, try viewing them as opportunities to positively influence someone. next time your phone rings when you’re in the middle of something, think about going above and beyond what that person is going to ask of you. blow them away with your kindness.
obligation? or opportunity. you can decide, regardless of your title or position in your career or your life.
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Now, while I agree with this, at work I am repeatedly bombarded by people that want something for free. Whether or not it is warranted is not the question. When I have gone above and beyond, it has been returned with them wanting more all the time and making me feel like because I am a nice guy I am getting stepped on. This has left me jaded and irritable from time to time….
Anne: Thanks for pointing those books out.
That’s interesting what you wrote about our attitude toward interruptions. I’m reading a book now called the Rest of God by Mark Buchannan that echos that sentiment. In fact, Buchannan goes so far to say that most of Jesus’ ministry life recorded in the Gospels was a string of interruptions that the disciples were busily trying to shoo away…
My favorite book of all times is “The Great Divorce” by C.S. Lewis.