As we approach the holiday season, I am amazed how fast this year has gone and reminded that my tenure as guardian and lead protagonist of the NAWBO Southern Nevada banner is winding down. I have been rewarded abundantly for the opportunity and believe that both I and the organization are better off by the experience. I thought this would be a good time to address a question that was posed to me a few months ago on my choice of topics each month. Specifically, why did I choose to write my monthly messages about subject matters that seemingly were not business-related? The short answer is everything is connected! Why I AM who I AM today.
Since I'm not known for short answers, I'll expound on the idea. Basically the premise boils down to the concept that the way you conduct yourself in your personal life will reflect also in the way you conduct business. Your business relationships, practices and habits (both working and non-working) will mirror the same tendencies you have developed over time in your personal life. Therefore I design my messages each month to compliment what I feel is the most important value in both personal and professional relationships. That value (if you haven't already guessed) is accountability.
Accountability for our choices is crucial to building any relationship we have or hope to develop. When I commit to something, whether it's family-related, “I’ll take you for ice cream when I get home for doing your homework,” or a signed agreement, “I will have my mortgage paid on time,” it is the same as promising to deliver your paycheck on Friday. It's all about being accountable for the original agreement made whether it was verbal or written. BE your WORD and walk in ACTION items. Being late or, even worse, not delivering at all has a negative impact on the strength of any relationship. Fortunately, even if you find yourself in a position of non-accountability, there are steps to realignment.
As odd as it may sound, the way to realignment is to stand accountable for being unaccountable, and if the party (parties) is open to it, renegotiating your commitment. To admit I am accountable for not delivering, or not being present in the moment because I'm on the phone or any other circumstance that distracts me from the original commitment, can be rectified by a renegotiate and recommit. Keeping my commitments, whether original or a renegotiated one, has made my relationships stronger because action items always speak louder than words. It has also served me well in the administration of my duties with NAWBO Southern Nevada. I AM consistent.
As I prepare to turn the reins over to my successor, I would offer to her and everyone else as well to allow accountability to be your driving motivation in all your relationships, personal and professional. It may very well strengthen the most important relationship you have, the relationship you have with yourself.
A work in progress……..Keep the Faith….I AM!
