What goes around, comes around...

Loyalty, like integrity, is often what you say or do when nobody, or a certain somebody, is around to see it. Like: doing what you promised, honoring someone’s wishes, celebrating someone’s accomplishments, following up on someone’s question or request, or just thinking good thoughts about someone. I could write here about all the wonderful examples in business of leaders doing and saying nice things about someone who’s not there, and how that looks and feels to those that are. But after traveling and flying yesterday for the first time in nearly 8 months, I’d like to mention how people were acting in the airport or on the plane: in that environment, loyalty, like caring, is about doing what you’re supposed to do even when nobody notices. Everyone wore masks, and nearly everyone had one covering both their noses and mouths – there were signs and announcements everywhere to do that, but it wasn’t like anyone was checking or enforcing that. People just seemed to do those things because it was the right thing to do, in general, and for the people around them and those they’d come in contact with later. There were more people than I expected, but that simple act made traveling okay. We’ve all got to be safety conscious and trustworthy for those who are present or not if we’re ever going to get back to a more normal existence today. 

Stephen Covey (1932 – 2012): American educator, author, businessman, and keynote speaker