The Colonel said, “People will be watching you, kiddo. They will measure your character by the way you treat those who report to you.”
Dad believed the measure of a human being is largely how they treat the people who can’t do anything for them. You see, it’s easy to treat people with respect if we want or need something from them – or if they are perceived to be in a higher position than we are. But it’s how we treat the rest of the population – those who report to us or who are lower in the organizational chart, those who seemingly can do nothing FOR us – that’s what really defines us.
When I first joined the National Speakers Association as a brand new, emerging speaker, I was naive and eager to learn the ins and outs of the speaking business. NSA was founded on the premise that, as we help each other get better, the whole speaking industry gets better and grows as a result. During my first six months in the association, I met many people who had achieved what I was hoping to achieve. Some dismissed me entirely as not worth their time, while others saw me as a rookie target and were eager to sell me their consulting services on how I could become a million-dollar speaker. There were also those, however, who took a genuine interest in me, with an authentic desire to help me build my potential. They offered their time, expertise, insights, contacts, and marketing resources to help me build to a level where I would (theoretically) not need them anymore. They have never expected anything but friendship in return. Of course, we have become some of my dearest friends, and I will always need them in that capacity. I respect and admire them a great deal.
Now that I am more well established and have achieved a portion of the success I aspire to, I am often approached by emerging speakers wanting to “pick my brain” and ask questions. I always take the time to offer whatever wisdom I can. I gauge how I treat the up-and-comers based on how I was treated and endeavor to make them feel valued while giving freely to help them build their own success. Furthermore, many of those who dismissed me initially now want to get to know me and build collaborations or partnerships. Although they may not remember me from “back then,” I have a pretty good indication of how they will treat smaller-fish clients and prospects who, perhaps, have no further connections or marketing value for them, so I pick and choose who I respond to very carefully.
Folks, how you treat those who report to you and those who seemingly can do nothing for you is a measure of your character. Treat all people with the same measure of respect because people notice, and people remember.
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