I have come to Nashville on business many times over the years. Normally I am here with the entire SSC team. It’s where Rhonda and I developed the Opryland Stained glass piece and the Big “L” garden piece.Nashville is where the SSC team won the 2002 and 2006 Embroidery Olympics. We have a blast here in Nashville each summer manning our booth as a team, walking Music City’s strip listening to the bands and eating in our favorite restaurants.
I have always eaten at Rippy’s Ribs when I have been here and this year was no exception. It wasn’t the same alone, without the gang. I rode the elevator to my room on the 22nd floor and looked out over the city through the glass elevator remembering Lisa’s squeal every time we would take the evaluator. Even walking the strip wasn’t the same. We normally pop into gift shops and laugh at the trinkets and trash. I didn’t see how that would be fun without everyone else.
Case in point
A successful work environment is one where you become family. Truly being a team is the goal of most work environments. Becoming so close that life seems empty without your co-workers is an added surprise. What I like most is we all have our quirkiness, but that’s part of the fun. Appreciating what each person is all about matters. Yes “Everything does matter” and that includes people. People matter. This happens when you take the time to get to know each other and when you care enough for one another that you accept and appreciate who the other person is.
Challenge
What are you doing to get to know your co-workers?
How open are you to your co-workers being who they are?
Do you appreciate who your co-workers are?
How can you apply this to your customers?
How would your customers respond if they felt appreciated, accepted regardless of their quirkiness and welcome at your place of business?
Comments
Posted by Wendy Fisher :: 11/29/07
My co-worker is a Mennonite girl who lives next door. Just talking and being there to answer
questions she has about the machine, thread etc.has helped form our bond. I ask her opinion once in awhile, and when she says she does not know enough, I teach her. I print out interesting articles I find about the embroidery world for her, I keep up-to-date on her life in general and we laugh about funny things her Dad says or my husband says. I know her interests outside of the job, and try to find small gifts...she likes scrapbooking and I had lots of paper I never used so she has it now.... anything to let her know I am thinking of
her and appreciate her. I also have opened up my machine and supplies to let her make small Christmas gifts for her family, and this has really
been a big plus.
One of my customers is very quirky, but by finding out her interests, and by being kind,
she has become a real friend..
