Keeping the Peace

“It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed.” – Napoleon Hill

Not a lot of people understand this concept. Some people become so focused on themselves and their own needs that they forget about the people around them. I once worked with a woman who was completely freaked out because she forgot to buy diapers. She needed the diapers at the end of the day. She also needed to be in a meeting with her customer and her manager in thirty minutes. She opted to run to the store during working hours and pick up those diapers. She was late to the meeting and actually informed everyone that she was late because she had to go purchase those diapers.

Her boss looked at her and said, “I would have let you leave early today to go to the store if I had known it would have gotten you into this meeting on time and prepared.” Yikes! I wish I could tell you that this woman learned her lesson. Alas, she always had a hard time remaining focused on what the people around her needed and when they needed it and yes, she suffered at review time.

What does it mean to help others succeed, to put them first? It’s not about washing the boss’ car or always bringing him or her lunch. It is about behaviors like this:

When your management calls you or leaves you an email or leaves you a note; respond and respond as soon as possible.

If one of your co-workers is waiting on you for something, finish it and get it to them as soon as possible.

Now I’m not implying that you should be on call 24/7, that’s a totally different requirement. I’m not saying that you should give up all of your time and be there in case your management has a question. What I am saying is that when someone in management has a question, you should treat it as urgent and important. Do not sacrifice your personal health or safety, but on a normal work day, in a normal routine, if you are looking at your desk and there’s something that you need to do – maybe it’s making copies of an agenda for a meeting tomorrow versus taking care of something for your boss, take care of your boss first.

It’s about serving others. No matter how important your title may be or how high your salary is, you are serving others. When you come to the office you are there to serve others. When your actions depict service, others will take notice.

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