Big Moments

How long was it since you last had a ‘big moment’; since you felt really good for just being alive? We associate these feelings with life changing events but in fact they don’t need to be. Of course there are those key moments: the first kiss at Summer camp, passing one’s driving test, getting that first important job after leaving college, and for many the biggest of all,  the birth of a child.  These are the big moments that make our lives our own.  But how often do we encourage Big Moments at work? 

As leaders, do we recognize big moments in the careers of those we have influence over and do we encourage them?  For many a simple meeting with a director or senior manager can be a big moment, motivating them to try harder and to excel in their career.  But it is also important to remember that the injection of exhilaration and motivation gradually wears off and the reality of daily life kicks in again.  A leader needs not to forget this and to ensure that they do their best to create a structure in their department or organization that can at least try to keep motivation alive by encouraging considerate acts that make people feel special, needed and appreciated.

By giving someone the opportunity to present their findings at the next management meeting, or simply recognizing that for the person you are interviewing that this is probably a big moment for them, is the first step to creating more of them.  It is all too easy for us to forget the impact we have on others and that how we behave can make a real difference.  After all where would we be today without the lucky breaks, the moments when people gave us opportunities we may not have expected?

Inspiring others to excel requires us to give up some of our own precious space and to share it. Giving a junior the chance to open an important meeting is a natural thing to do, how else will the next generation ever learn?

Our lives are made up of a series of big moments. If we have the opportunity to inject a few into the lives and careers of others, then we owe it to ourselves to do it, without desiring any more in return than the satisfaction of observing and understanding the effect it has on the lucky recipient.

Have a good week,

Harley