By Dave Fellman
One of my clients is a serious “motivational thoughts junkie.” He has a whole bookcase full of motivational books in his office, by authors ranging from Roy Rogers to Dale Carnegie. And they’re not just there for show; not only has he read them all, he can quote from most of them at length.
He also has no fewer than 30 motivational posters, plaques, deskplates and other assorted items in his office. He spends his days among soaring motivational messages, and to at least some degree, all of this motivational power is working. His business has grown steadily over the years, and he seems to do a pretty good job of handling the emotional highs and lows that go along with running a small, entrepreneurial business.
I asked him recently if there was one thought that stood out among all of the others in providing the kind of motivation he seeks. He pointed to a small plaque on the wall, next to a large picture of his family. It said: “Attitudes Are Contagious. Is Yours Worth Catching?”
“This is my business,” my client said, “but it doesn’t go anywhere unless my employees follow my vision and my example. They’re going to mirror my moods and my attitudes, and I’ve learned over the years that I need to keep my head on straight if I expect them to do the same.”
It struck me that this is an excellent illustration of Leading By Example. But let’s go even deeper, because “attitude” covers a lot of ground. There’s your attitude toward customers, both good ones and not-so-good ones. There’s your attitude toward suppliers. There’s your attitude toward your employees, both collectively and singly.
There’s a saying about dancing like nobody’s watching. It’s fine with me if you do. But you can’t manage like nobody’s watching, because people are. You actions are driven by your attitudes, and your attitudes really are contagious!
Dave Fellman is the president of David Fellman & Associates, Cary, NC, a sales and marketing consulting firm serving numerous segments of the graphic arts industry. Contact Dave by phone at 919-363-4068 or by e-mail at dmf@davefellman.com. Visit his website at www.davefellman.com.