presence

First a repost (of a repost):

My 2-year old daughter, like most 2-year-old daughters, has a doll that she has latched onto. she carries it around; it rides in the car with us; she puts it down for naps. this particular doll has limited interaction: touch her cheek, "mama"; tickle her foot: laughter; squeeze her hand: crying. Lily, of course, does not understand the catalyst for her Darla vocalizing. However, her reaction is always the same. she does not sing to Darla, she does not chastise her, she does not try and converse with her, she does not ignore her.

Lily simply touches Darla's head and softly states, "Darla, I am right here. I am right here."

The one and only most important priority in the Lily/Darla relationship is presence; rain or shine, good or bad, light or dark, Lily simply states, "I am right here."

Sure, that is a bit emotionally-tingly, if you are in the right mindspace when you read it. However, there is a truth here that directly resonates within the corporate walls. I spent some time today watching a video (internal to my company) that featured RR-H, MV, and FR. I was impressed with the fact that each speaker, of their own accord, mentioned the importance of saying "thank you". It's a truism often understood outside of the company walls, but it was very uplifting to see it expressed internally.

And it got me thinking: if money is nice, and if expressed gratitude is motivating, then what is necessary?

I keep coming back to the episode above. Presence, it seems to me, is perhaps the most basic, yet imperative factor in a successful work culture. Not your own presence (the importance of that goes without saying), but the presence of those around you, those who support you, those who suffer with you. Without companions, partners, teammates, without a sense of belonging, there would be no "company".

We should all take the time today to remind those who rely on us, those we rely on, those we support and are supported by, that we are here; not merely here, but "right here".

Be present, not only in form but also in function.

shanti,
mjh