Weekly Blog: Renewal Process

Ten minutes before taking the stage to facilitate a teambuilding session for one of our local Manatee County Government Agencies, an audience member approached me quietly and politely asked, "Do you remember me? I renewed your driver's license years ago!"

My immediate and only thought was I hoped I wasn't rude to this nice woman during that driver's license renewal process years ago. I gathered my senses, smiled awkwardly, and apprehensively responded with, "Please tell me I wasn't rude during that driver's license renewal process years ago." Thankfully, I wasn't rude. Apparently, the experience was pleasant, encouraging, and memorable. I was relieved to receive this positive report but sad and disappointed my first and only thought was otherwise. The reality is we're not always pleasant and encouraging; when I'm not, it's memorable.

If we want to truly capture an accurate picture of ourselves, (unlike the images on many of our driver’s licenses), during these encounters with long lines, windows, busy schedules, permits, regulations, tickets, forms, fines, and fees, it can become a recipe for short, impatient, and rude. Add in a dash of “I’ll probably never see any of these people again”, and these small inconveniences can quickly spin us off track.

Thankfully, in this case, I avoided a crash. But oh, what an ironic wreck I would have been to hear otherwise and then immediately take the stage to deliver one of our signature teambuilding programs, "Inspiring Creative Collaboration." If I had been told I was short, impatient, and/or rude getting my license, I would have had to change the session title to, "Do As I Say, Not As I Do." Thankfully, a title change was unnecessary, and the audience was hungry to learn tangible techniques to work well together, celebrate one another's talents, and collaborate creatively. I was even able to honor my new friend Rachel and let everyone in the audience know she was instrumental in my renewal.

As I packed up my things, I told Rachel I had learned a valuable lesson from our earlier exchange. Not the exchange many years ago, but our exchange immediately before the session. I explained when we teach "Inspiring Creative Collaboration," we share techniques to recognize the benefits of encouragement and positive perspective to instill emotional control in the face of challenging situations or circumstances.?

We both agreed getting one's driver's license renewed can be challenging, especially for this California kid who grew up waiting all day in line at the Department of Motor Vehicles during the dreaded renewal process. Thankfully, that wasn't the case with Rachel at the Manatee County Tax collectors many years ago. In fact, it was effortless. I was in and out of there in less than 30 minutes, and it was a pleasant and encouraging experience, as far as I could remember.?

As I drove home, I kept thinking about how important it is that we do our best to treat people with kindness and respect, especially in challenging circumstances. I know that's much easier said than done, so if you need a little help, a powerful reminder, which we all deserve now and then, just think that you may see that person again. You may even collaborate with them on something important. That mindset, that perspective, that change in direction, may be all we need to go from short, impatient, and rude to a pleasant, encouraging, and memorable renewal process.?

Drive On. Renewal On. Game On.