I Will Take Care of You

Think of an excellent customer service experience, be it retail, hospitality, medical.   Perhaps you had a certain level of anxiety regarding a specific issue.  I bet you it was resolved by an individual who reassured you, and then followed up with real actions.  At that moment that you knew the issue was resolved you could exhale all of the anxiety because in your mind that person had effectively said, "I will take care of you."

Not in the mafia-sense of "I'll-take-care-of-you-now-go-for-a-ride-in-the-trunk-of-my-Desoto."   Not in the world weary, alright-already, let's just get this over-with sense.  No.  "I will take care of you," said genuinely and followed up with action, is one of the best and most effective things that leaders can do for their teams.

"I will take care of you" should mean many things.     I will be fair, in fact, I will be more than fair.  I will do more than look out for your best interests;  I will adopt your interests as my own.  I will drive the business forward positively with ethics and integrity.   I will assure that we as a team are successful.   I will make tough decisions based on the greatest good.  I will have an extra sense that looks for both opportunities that can be leveraged for the team member as well as dangers that can be avoided.  I will conduct my own business so that you, as a team member, can rightfully be confident in engaging my trust on both professional and personal matters.

It is a tall order.   To suggest that this is wishful thinking or pandering to the masses is an excuse.   Think of it this way.   Think of people who have your back, who will go the second mile to assure that you are both protected and successful. . .wouldn't you follow them to the moon and back?

The fact that rightfully taking care of the workforce assures that people follow you is, however, a side benefit.  The main benefit is that you, and everyone who engages in the act of caring, become fuller individuals who contribute to a better society.

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My book, "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders"  is available on Amazon Kindle.