Dare to care...

·      Be respectful to everyone you meet.

·      There’s no downside to that.

·      It’s the right thing to do.

 

Bottom line - Coach Wooden’s words here says it all, in sports, business, and life. He was immensely successful because of his respectful ways – with college administrators, the players he coached, their parents, and the fans.  And therein is another of the lessons to be learned from him. In business, this applies to customers and employees – respect makes them both want to do more with and for you. From an old HR professional’s perspective, that’s why a workplace culture is so important – employees work harder, give more, and are more loyal in an environment of trust and respect. It’s a two-way street – making investments in employee relations pays dividends in productivity, engagement, satisfaction, and retention. That’s why practicing emotional intelligence is so important – people do more when they know you care. It’s never about the wages unless the lack of caring leaves only the wages to matter. And there’s no exemptions for status or wealth – history has shown that to be true. So, start each day with a commitment to treat everyone with respect – that’s the best way to get the most out of your people and for you to be more successful today.

 

John Wooden (1910 – 2010): American basketball player in college (Purdue – 1^st 3x All-American All-Star award winner), and professional (in the old NBL); and coach (UCLA – a then record of 10 National Championships), and acclaimed leader.