The Lesson of a New Journal

A few weeks ago when doing a workshop, an existing client who I know pretty well, came up at the break to ask me about journaling. She mentioned that she saw me using mine earlier in the day and asked some questions about my experience, how I use it and more.

The journals I use are ones that we had made and occasionally give them to Clients and friends as a special thanks.

As we discussed my experience and her growing plan to start using one, I walked over to one of my boxes, pulled one out and handed it to her. After she realized I wasn't just showing her a sample, but giving it to her, she smiled and giggled with little-girl-on-Christmas-Morning glee.

At the end of the session she brought me a note, written in crayon (hey I was leading a creativity workshop!). The note read:

Lesson of the Day:

If someone tells you their:
- hope
- dream
- something they want to try

and

you can show immediate support . . . do it!

They will:

- be surprised
- be grateful
- be more likely to do it

and

they will:

- see you as their Champion
- think you are a really nice guy
- be inspired to do the same for someone else
- recognize that one person can have a big impact

She closed the note by saying that this would be the first entry in her new journal.

While this is a gratifying note to me, that isn't why I share it. I share it because Nancy speaks the truth, and that truth should speak to us as coaches and leaders. The simple act of showing support in even small ways at just the right moment can have a huge impact on others - far more perhaps than we will ever realize.

Too often leaders tell me they don't have time to coach. That in heavy task loads and endless meetings there isn't time to give people feedback on how they are doing.

The conversation between Nancy and I took maybe three minutes. It required that I listen, empathize, and take action.

All of us can do these things, and all of us can make a difference.

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