I was watching a famous film star, Will Smith, being interviewed by Graham Norton on a TV chat show this week. Will Smith was describing how many people came to watch a street scene being filmed, especially in America. One of his fellow interviewees, Helen Mirren, who was on the same film set commented that Will Smith was in fact very generous and spent a lot of time in between takes talking and joking with this impromptu audience.
He explained that he liked to help light up peoples’ lives if he could. He didn’t have to do this and there are many famous people who seem to shun contact with “ordinary” folk. However he seemed to want to give something back. Now of course, as a very popular celebrity, it would be easy for him to make a fan’s week by passing the time of day with him or her.
But as I thought about this a bit more I began to realise that there is perhaps a more general lesson for us all in our professional working lives. In any day to day dealing with colleagues or clients making an extra effort to communicate, to do something however small to help, beyond what we strictly have to or need to do can be really appreciated.
Making a colleague’s day in this way or a client’s is more than just good behaviour. It improves working relationships with our fellow workers who will often reciprocate in kind. It also deepens our connection with clients and makes them more appreciative of our efforts – and likely to remain as clients and give us more work as a result.
Staying with the theme of show business the actress Anna Kendrick said of a famous fellow actor: The consummate gentleman on the planet today is George Clooney, who never fails to go the extra mile for people. Every person matters to George.
So one of my New Year’s resolutions, along with the usual ones about getting fitter etc., will be to go the extra mile and albeit in a small but hopefully effective way light up some lives a bit more.
He explained that he liked to help light up peoples’ lives if he could. He didn’t have to do this and there are many famous people who seem to shun contact with “ordinary” folk. However he seemed to want to give something back. Now of course, as a very popular celebrity, it would be easy for him to make a fan’s week by passing the time of day with him or her.
But as I thought about this a bit more I began to realise that there is perhaps a more general lesson for us all in our professional working lives. In any day to day dealing with colleagues or clients making an extra effort to communicate, to do something however small to help, beyond what we strictly have to or need to do can be really appreciated.
Making a colleague’s day in this way or a client’s is more than just good behaviour. It improves working relationships with our fellow workers who will often reciprocate in kind. It also deepens our connection with clients and makes them more appreciative of our efforts – and likely to remain as clients and give us more work as a result.
Staying with the theme of show business the actress Anna Kendrick said of a famous fellow actor: The consummate gentleman on the planet today is George Clooney, who never fails to go the extra mile for people. Every person matters to George.
So one of my New Year’s resolutions, along with the usual ones about getting fitter etc., will be to go the extra mile and albeit in a small but hopefully effective way light up some lives a bit more.
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