Here it comes…
“Fine, thanks.”
“Great.”
End of conversation.
Or…
“How are you?”
“Fine, thanks.”
“That’s good to hear, because I’ve noticed that you haven’t quite been yourself lately. You seem a little down.”
“Oh, was it noticeable? It’s just that…”
The conversation – the real conversation – continues. Or at least has a chance to.
And why is that? Because as a leader you are always paying attention. And when someone is not who you know them to be you check it out.
You get curious.
You get interested.
And you stick with it until you’ve done all you can to help them work through it.
Not for the sake of productivity. Not for the sake of efficiency. Not because of the big project deadline.
Because you’re a human being.
And that’s what we’re here to do.
DAVID BERRY is the author of “A More Daring Life: Finding Voice at the Crossroads of Change” and the founder of RULE13 Learning. He speaks and writes about the complexity of leading in a changing world.
