Do you remember this book?  Who am I kidding?  Of course you do.

I don’t know if these are still published but several years ago (maybe 10?), these physically small books were everywhere… Barnes & Noble, Hallmark, CVS, Wal-Mart… I’ll bet you could even find them in some Starbucks, 7-eleven or Toys R Us too.  And you know they’d be in a bin at TJ Maxx.

They contained little passages that might move us in some way… serve to motivate us or simply help remind us that many of the things we fret and worry about each day are minor in the grand scheme of life.  Did I find the quotes a little annoying?  Yes, some of them… a little too much like an ABC After School special.  But others, were incredibly poignant.   Some examples I just found:

• “Be brave. Even if you’re not, pretend to be. No one can tell the difference.”
• “Overtip breakfast waitresses.”
• “Leave everything a little better than you found it.”
• “Call your mother.”

Well earlier this week, I read a blog post at 5 second rule called “Somethings.”  The author, Cheryl, is a friend of mine and she was commenting on how little things can turn her day from downright awful to terrific… It reminded me a bit of the instruction book quotes (hence the reference) but what I love about her examples is that they’re genuine and real.  I encourage you to visit her blog to read the post but I wanted to give some air time to a few of the things she mentioned (the following are taken directly from the post “Somethings”):

“I really appreciate it when… I’m stopped at a light with my left blinker on, the light changes, and the car facing me gives me a little wave, signaling that I can go first. That’s just nice.”

“I love it when… a friend who’s running late calls me before the appointed time to let me know.”

“I prefer it when… my slice of cake has more chocolate chips than everyone else’s.”

“I’m tickled when… my husband talks about when we’re ninety.”

“I’m so thankful when… bloggers email me for permission before putting my photos or recipes on their sites.”

* I did email Cheryl to ask permission *

Why am I writing about this stuff?  Usually, I try to focus on that balance between business and people, right?  Stay tuned… I’ll get there.

Our lives are so filled with stress, criticism, cynicism, negativity and, generally, things that sap our energy and enthusiasm.  I see this in business all the time.  People are drone-like in their execution of tasks… and managers actually really like this… can you say “repeatable processes” three times fast?

If managers spent 10% more time (even 5%) figuring out ways to engage their employees better and carved out 5% (10% even better) of their people’s time for training, development and, heck,… even fun… guess what would happen?  Productivity would go up.  Yes, that’s right!  Take an employee who’s working 100% of their time executing tasks like a drone… convert 10% of their time to things that get them jazzed and they may still work the same number of hours but they will work more effectively, with passion, energy, and enthusiasm.  That will increase their productivity.  Your employees win and so do your customers.

I know I know, there will be managers who read this and think it’s just plain horsesh*t.  Fine – believe me when I say ‘you just don’t get it.’  There will be others who say that other stuff should happen (above and beyond) the 100% of their work time.  You don’t get it either.  You are not dealing with machines, you’re managing people.  But just as a machine requires up-keep, servicing, maintenance… a person similarly requires care and feeding… that’s training, coaching, career development, and fun.  It’s funny, though, that most managers would absolutely do the things needed to maintain a piece of equipment — why don’t they do what is necessary to ‘re-tool’ and ‘maintain’ their people?

The organizations who do get this are the exception.  That’s the sad truth.  They’re also the greatest places to work… and they have lower rates of turnover, the highest rates of performance, the best satisfaction ratings (from employees and customers) and…

Wait for it…

They’re the most profitable.  They have the best execution.  They have great cultures.  And did I mention they are the best places to work?

If you look at the little ‘somethings’ above, you can draw analogies to the business world:

I really appreciate it when… I’m driving to a deadline and someone who’s busy working on their own stuff, drops what they’re doing to help me.  That’s just nice.

I love it when… a colleague accepts my meeting invitation and when they’re running late, call me as early as possible in advance to let me know.”

Footnote: I just like when people respond to a meeting request

I’m tickled when (okay that sounds, well, not like something I’d ever say but go with me)… our CEO talks about building a company that will stand the test of time and create wealth for all of us and long-term value for our customers.

I’m so thankful when… any leader or manager gives credit to others around them and steps up to accept blame for a mistake.

These are soft, right?  If by soft, you mean it’s difficult to quantify, then yes.  It’s challenging to pre-program being thoughtful and considerate.  It’s difficult to pre-program being strategic or thinking long term too.  In fact, it’s darn hard to “teach” someone to know how to “do the right thing.”  That’s scary.

But if by soft, you mean lame or unimportant, I have a one-word response..

FALSE!!

As soft as some of these things may seem, they are all culture builders and cultivators.  Without them, it will forever be difficult to gain the commitment and dedication every organization needs from its people.  That’s real.

They are foundational.  Without them, it will be impossible to “build” anything on top.  That’s real.

And not having committed people… not having a strong foundation… and not caring about these things will have tangible outcomes, or should I say consequences… That’s real.

So… do your part to impart this to others.  In my little world, my goal is to change this thinking for each and every executive, leader, manager and person I interact with… One step at a time, my friends. You do the same.

Now… go call your mom or dad, brother or sister, son or daughter, or friend.

You’ll feel better for it.  And so will they.