I was humbled when a client told me, “I interviewed 7 international coaches, including some with 25 to 30 years of experience, before choosing you. They were successful individuals and speakers, but I felt like I was speaking to a robot. On the other hand, I could relate to you as a human being, someone with whom I can speak to for a long time.”
Needless to say, I was totally floored. This client was very successful and even had his own company with 30 employees. He has had a wealth of experience. I was surprised that he chose me.
A direct report who was close to retirement once told me, “In my entire career, I have only reported to two human beings. One was a friend, the other is you.” I felt happy for the compliment but sad that this is the state of affairs in the world of work and project management.
We are all human beings and would like to be treated as such. Let’s be human to each other.