It’s easy to become sentimental following Father’s Day. My father was a wonderful man by many accounts – and he loved being with people. He loved being around other families, friends, and soon-to-be friends. To this day, nearly 15-years after his passing, people still want to talk about my dad and how much they enjoyed being around him.
With Dad in Florida, Circa 1985
I miss my dad. He showed me how to connect.
Dad was a record-setting salesman in the 1970s. Looking back, there’s little wonder why he did so well. Dad knew how to connect with people. Dad knew how to find common ground. He didn’t read about it or train for it, he just had it. He was interested in other people and really enjoyed helping them.
There was hardly a moment that passed when dad didn’t have the time to stop and talk with one of his clients, a friend, or an acquaintance. And dad often had a simple gift ready for those he’d meet. It might be a piece of candy, a pen with his company name on it, or a silver spoon for a newborn child. On occasion, at dad’s request, mom would even make some homemade goodies for one of his special clients.
Contacts and Conversations That Connect
While we were growing up, dad’s contacts and conversations lasted way too long for his anxious children who stood nearby. My sister Tina and I wanted to go and be with our friends, to do our own thing. And sometimes these conversations were too long for mom who got anxious because of a roast in the oven or another household matter. But nothing seemed to bother dad enough to cut his conversations short. He was simply being Johnnie Sarkus – the guy who loved people and loved to talk!
Dad knew how to connect – he had a BIG infectious smile. He knew how to joke and have fun. He knew how to laugh. He had empathy. And he had a BIG handshake that kept on shaking – sometimes throughout the first minutes of a conversation. Looking back, that “perpetual handshake” was so funny – the handshake that just wouldn’t quit! “Ok dad – I think you can let go now!” I still remember someone saying those words.
Dad always showed concern about a person’s health, their family, and loved ones. And he was genuine. That’s what made him special. That’s what set dad apart. He seldom talked business unless the other person brought up business first. Often, I don’t think he really cared about business. From those encounters, referrals and future business would keep coming – it just seemed to flow.
Your Leaders and That Connection
In my motivational talks, training seminars, and consulting practice, I often discuss the need to connect with others. It may be with your boss, other managers or supervisors, or individuals who work for you. These contacts and connections are imperative if you want to have lasting success – if you want to get to safety excellence and move beyond it!
Do you know how to connect with others and stay connected?
How about your managers or supervisors? Do they know how to connect with those around them – with individuals who need to be moved and motivated?
Do your supervisors know how to strike-up a conversation that helps to show care and concern for someone and ultimately their health and safety?
Do your supervisors and key employees know how to speak (one-on-one) in ways that will leave a lasting impression – helping individuals want to work safely? And not just when they’re “being watched” or when they’re “on-the-job.”
Dad created a lasting impression within me and upon many others. During his lifetime, dad built-up a little legacy of his own. What kind of legacy are you and your leaders building within your own organizations? What kind of legacy are you building and leaving when it comes to employee safety?