We were going 64 in a 50 zone on our way to bury Larry when we got pulled over. When the police officer asked the reason why we were going so fast we told him that we were on our way to Larry's funeral. As he marched back to his car with my wife's licence and insurance, I told my wife we would have to believe that Larry had some pull with the Big Guy if he could fix this one.
Larry was always part of something bigger. Running his organization, he often relied on "divine intervention" to ensure that he had enough customers, the right people arriving to fill the employment vacancies, and enough money to make payroll.
It's not that Larry didn't work hard, he did, but he didn't sweat the small stuff. Great people would turn up to fill his vacancies. The time he spent on marketing and sales ensured that his customers did come in droves. While his business acumen wasn't his strongest asset, he always found a way to make ends meet, with a few dollars left over that he inevitably gave away to "someone who needed it more than he did."
You probably know a leader like Larry. They are fun to be around because it's not all about them. They are generous with their resources, but they are accountable and keep their employees accountable for getting the results they have promised to deliver. They have a clear vision of what they should be doing and know how to get their team excited to be part of something bigger.
But what does it really mean to be part of something bigger?
Sometimes we are so caught up in the struggles of our enterprises, that we don't realize the impact we are having on the lives of other people, the environment and even the world. In my position as a business coach I often have the opportunity, as an outsider, to observe the impacts that leaders are unknowingly making.
For example, I have seen an owner who in providing a job to an employee was giving her the responsibility to make decisions.
While applauding her on those decisions, he has built confidence in an apparently fragile young lady which is life-changing for her. This could positively affect her and her family for generations.
The owner of a retail business who dedicates years of passionate and caring service to her customers enables them to trust her implicitly as a friend and confidante. It is difficult for us to comprehend that many people are lonely and only wish that we could spend time listening to them.
I know the leader of an ecology company who is passionate about only working on projects that are going to make the world a better place. While some people might view this type of aspiration as foolhardy, desires like this can change the world by attracting like-minded people to share in these altruistic ventures.
But it's not only the big things that make a difference. It's the small things that really count, for example: when you took the time to learn something important from a staff member; the one time you went over and beyond for a customer; the time you thanked your supplier for making a difference for you; when you recognized the contribution of one of your team who thought no one had noticed their accomplishment.
It could be the little smile for a doorman, delivery driver, or student that made their day or the tip you gave a driver. Perhaps it was the honest staff review when you suggested that your employee might be happier doing something else. You may have shared an idea, offered a challenging question, or complimented on work well done.
As leaders we might not believe there is something bigger, but often, we don't understand how we impact the lives of others. Larry believed that he was just a small cog in the wheel helping out the Big Guy and as a result made a difference in many lives.
That policeman who stopped us on the way to Larry's funeral was part of something bigger. A few minutes after pulling us over, the officer came back to the window with the paperwork filled out giving my wife a written warning and verbal notice that he wouldn't be so easy next time if she didn't slow down. We did slow down but we came to the conclusion that Larry might have had a word with his friend, the Big Guy.
Dave Fuller, MBA, is an award-winning professional business coach and the author of the book Profit Yourself Healthy. Be part of something bigger and give Dave a suggestion for his column next week. Email dave@profityourselfhealthy.com
