I See You

“We see you,” said the NFL commercial as I watched the Pats game over the holidays.  Different players described the efforts of various community members, average citizens – one working at a food pantry, one tutoring a child, one cleaning up a litter-strewn park, etc.  “We see you” – that is, even though your efforts won’t get much celebration, even though what may be an exceptional talent for running a shelter may never be recognized, know that we see you.  And are grateful.

All the people managers out there deserve a similar message.  Managing and leading people is rarely celebrated in and of itself.  You might get recognition for leading a productive team; the results you generate may get some attention, but the particular efforts you put into aligning others and enabling your staff to be successful, etc. will not receive any particular recognition – at least that’s my experience over 25 years in multiple industries and types of organizations. 

So why bother?  Managing and leading people has many headaches.  Why put effort into learning how to enable others to do their best work?  Maybe just phone it in and do the bare minimum because it’s not going to get recognized anyway.  I can think of at least two reasons:

1.       You’ll get better results from your team.   I swear on everything that is holy – you will.  You may be getting results already, but you’ll get better results.  I promise.

2.       It can be its own reward.  Helping someone along their career path – be it grand or invisible – is extremely fulfilling if you let yourself stop and recognize it.

What are your reasons?  Drop me a line and let me know: dana@bossolutions.co

And just remember, I see you.