Catch them good!
In 2001, I had the fortune of representing Cisco Systems at the Manugistics conference in Orlando Florida. The opportunity to discuss Cisco's eHub initiative and the partnership with Manugistics was a gift. The real gift happened in dialog with one of the key executives while on a bus ride to dinner.
At the time my kids were four and one years old. (we now have three 24,21, and 19!). My goal has always been to be a great Dad so I asked him for some fatherly advice since his kids were older. He told me the story of his son who was developmentally challenged and how he and his wife would interact with him over breakfast. In a session with their family counselor, the counselor asked them to describe a day in the life with their son all the way down to the words they used. He offered that if their son would drop his spoon that they would tell him to not drop his spoon. In a quiet and kind way the counselor told them "you have it all wrong". As the thought of that quickly weighed on them, through tears they heard her say "Catch Him Good"! He and I both had a quiet moment together on the bus and his advice settled into my soul. He gave me a pen that is captured in the image above. Since that time 20 years ago I have used that pen to write many thank you notes to employees, colleagues, friends, etc. It is a symbolic reminder to catch people good!
As I reflected this week on what is being called the Great Resignation, the question dropped in for me, "what would be the impact if we did more to catch each other good?" What would the impact be if we caught each other good at home, work, and in our communities? It seems to me that a drive to get better seems to often be focused on looking at people as insufficiently skilled, incomplete, or incapable when what https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/janetharvey/ Janet Harvey teaches us, which is to take the view that people are whole, resourceful, capable, and creative will be more positively impactful. Imagine the power of taking that posture toward ourselves and each other whether an employee, family member, friend, community member, etc. To close, i will share an amazing quote to consider from Mark Twain "Kindness is the language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see". May we kindly Catch Them Good!
Practice Manager | Promoting Patient-Centered Care by Enhancing Staff Work Environments
2 年Well said, Todd Dunn! Thank you for sharing this!
SVP, Sales | Transforming Healthcare | COE & Value-Based Care
3 年Thanks for sharing Todd! So good! ??
Passionate technology evangelist, change agent, business builder and Microsoft alumni. Avid cyclist, traveler and hobby coffee roaster. Front End Of Innovation certified. AI Champion
3 年A well loved pen. Appreciate the great closing quote!
Unlocking Workforce Potential for Greater Profitability and Productivity Through Generative Wholeness? | Keynote Speaker | Award-Winning Author | ICF MCC & Master Generative Coach | Director of Coaching Education
3 年That's the spirit Todd ... wonderful to see your writing here and the shout out for the generative mindset -- we ARE all whole, resourceful, capable, and creative -- and responsible for creating the thriving experience of life with each other... that is the privilege of being human.]
Healthcare Project Lead~ Patient-Centric Culture ~ Community Advocate ~ Innovative Mindset
3 年I love the prospective and wisdom of it. Many of us always forget to see small stuff in our team but it can make big impact on someone’s life. Thank you for sharing this attitude “Catch them for good”