Act Like You Give a Damn!

“ACT LIKE YOU GIVE A DAMN!” This was one of many exhortations my father repeated to my siblings and me countless times throughout our childhood and young adult years—often with a smile, sometimes with a stern glare. By this he meant that we should not only put forth our best effort at every endeavor, but that it should be evident by our behavior and demeanor that we believe what we are doing is worth doing well. I always understood this encouragement to have two dimensions, the Practical and the Symbolic.

The Practical dimension is the call to excellence, to be a good steward of one’s natural and acquired gifts by using them the best we can, especially when there is another person counting on us to deliver results. The Symbolic dimension is communicative, like active listening. It is confirming to others by our words, posture, mannerisms, and actions that we understand what the other person wants, needs, or expects, and that we are going to make a good faith effort to get it done.

Regardless of whether we’re interacting with an employee, our boss, a customer, service provider, or total stranger, it is a sign of respect to be empathetically responsive. The opposites of empathy and respect—even if unintentional—include a cavalier attitude, a flat affect, or an unfriendly disposition, any of which can be unfavorably interpreted as inattentive or indifferent, at best, or impolite or antagonistic, at worst. Everyone appreciates being acknowledged and having their expectations and needs validated, especially in the context of business. So even though we intend to deliver excellent results, we should also let it show in how we act that we understand that the matter at hand is of consequence to the other. This mindfulness of showing we care is a prudent habit that fosters civility and good will, it improves employee experience and customer experience. It’s a sound business practice, and it helps me find meaning and joy in even the most routine tasks. It’s a lesson I am grateful to my father for impressing upon me.

My father, Robert Ernest Klee, passed away 28 years ago this month. I wanted to share this life lesson in his honor. Thanks, Dad!  

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