Mr. Rogers: A blast from the past

Well this week marks the 50th anniversary of the Mr. Rogers show on PBS. During these very polarizing times I thought it might be good to reflect on what he represented to the youth of his time. He was known for kindness, civility and empathy. These are all qualities you have when you have high emotional intelligence. He was definitely a good neighbor. These qualities will serve you well as a staff person in any Tribal organization.

It is important to find ways to be kind every day. I am a big fan of practicing random kindness whenever you can. It might be giving your sick leave to someone who has a very serious illness for example. I have seen many of our people do this and it always warms my heart.

Having civility is always a good place to start a relationship. This includes showing respect for others. In our Tribal council all the members shake each others hands before each meeting. This may seem like a small thing but it sets a certain tone for the meeting and let's others know that we can agree to disagree with each other.

Empathy is very important in being able to relate to others who are in a different place than you are. The old saying still holds true that people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. Be there for others in their time of need and your fellow co-workers will be there for you when you need them.