Take a Seat: Heaven or Hell?

“Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like,” said a holy man who conversed with the Lord one day. The Almighty led the holy man to two doors. He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew which smelled delicious and made the holy man’s mouth water.

But the people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful, but because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths. The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering. The Lord said, ‘You have seen Hell.’

They then went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man’s mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking. The holy man said, “I don’t understand.” “It is simple” said the Lord, “In this place the people have learned to feed one another.” (author unknown, http:// www.inspirationpeak.com)

Those who learned to feed one another realized the importance of both receiving and giving. Sometimes we can struggle more with the receiving facet of the relationship. To receive one must acknowledge a need – a vulnerability that gifts the giver with importance and value. To always have it “all together” builds a distance with those who care the most for us. If we are authentic and approachable, we must remove the mask of certitude. We can only get so close to someone who fronts that image of the always capable spouse, colleague, or friend.

Our story depicts heaven as a place where everyone is vital to the success of the group. In the pecking order of our businesses, we can stop listening, stop inquiring, stop including the thinking of those “below a certain prestige level.” The front line people who implement the procedures, who get the feedback from the customers are too often excluded from the important meetings and decisions. If we really believe we can be fed by “our subordinates” at the table, we will invite them to meetings with decision makers; we will encourage their feedback; and we will create a culture of ownership that wants accountability.

Arthur W. Jones observed: “All organizations are perfectly aligned to get the results they get.” Are people reaching across the table with their long spoons nourishing each other or are they suffering from futile behavior driven by their own ambition? While such questions deserve a rigorous review of company culture, here are a few practical suggestions to nourish people’s ability to give and receive – to create those moments of heaven on the job!

1. Answer colleague’s emails and voice messages within one business day.
2. Evaluate staff meetings – just because everyone seems pleasant doesn’t mean staff find the meetings valuable.
3. Reward risk takers by celebrating their journey – even before the results are in
4. If you can’t meet a deadline, get released from your promise.
5. Give specific compliments – you will make two people happy.
6. Always keep people in the loop – even if their piece of the project is minor.
7. Before passing on information about another ask yourself, “What is my intent?”
8. Never miss an opportunity to say “Thank You.”