WordFood

It’s amazing how easy it is to get into the habit of catching people in the habit of doing things wrong. I was in Albuquerque working with leaders from BNSF a short while back and we were discussing how safety conscious this big railway company is. And for good reason. Safety is paramount. Every day people are playing with very big trains and lives are at risk: life and limb. A small mistake could mean huge impact down the line. Managers and leaders have to be on the watch all the time for violations big and small.
However this means constant vigilance for what is potentially wrong- and not enough catching people in the act of doing things perfectly. So we spent time talking and practicing the art of celebrating a job well done. Even in the small things. Doing a coupling job well, for example. An everyday job, but when it’s acknowledged, it makes a difference. People don’t expect that extra pat on the back. And boy, do we glow when we get it, especially if we’ve had a hard day.
At the end of our training, one senior manager commented about how the WordFood program made him think about how he treats his kids. “I’m always catching them out doing stuff wrong,” he said, sadness in his voice. “I don’t want to be that Dad.” We talked about ways to find the good in what they do every day and celebrate the small stuff.
Especially in our intimate relationships we need reminders that for the most part, we do get it right most of the time. Point that out to each other. Bask in each other’s goodness and value. Then when we have to make the inevitable course corrections, they’re much easier to take. Do this with yourself, too. These are the WordFood Energy Enhancers, or compliments, that we need to keep us engaged and happy.
Who do you need to feed today?