Your work will be average, at best, if you don’t really care about outcomes.
The reality is that your work supports your lifestyle choices. Your personal growth is primarily fueled by your work. When you appreciate this fully, you will learn to care about what you do.
I love the freedom I have. The freedom to travel and the freedom to enjoy some of the finer things that life has to offer. And, I am working to free myself from debt. My vocation pays for my freedom. But, I recognize the fact that this freedom can only come when I care about my work.
The key to success is to create and deliver as much value as you can.
This past week I have experienced, once again, the effect of caring about what you do.
I am writing this column from Stockholm in Sweden. I have not come here for any official business. I am neither training nor coaching anyone here. And, it’s not exactly a vacation.
I am here as a labour of love, and because of a leisurely pursuit that I really care about.
Truth be told, and I am not shy about this public declaration, I have been an ardent supporter of Manchester United Football Club since 1979.
I have tried to think about why I started to support this football club, but there does not seem to be any real science behind my fandom. I was not following in anyone’s footsteps. None of my family members supported this team when I was a kid. It just happened for me. I must have been around eight or nine years old when I watched a Manchester United match for the first time on the television. I liked what I saw, and I was hooked.
I came to Stockholm, about nine thousand kilometres away from home, to watch my team win the Europa League. It was a magnificent and glorious evening at the Friends Arena football stadium, if you were Manchester United fan.
People think I am very lucky to be able to do things like this. But, I know it has more to do with making active choices, rather than providence.
I have realised that life operates sequentially by following the laws of cause and effect.
Often, I travel to support my football team. I can do this because I have the financial resources. I have the resources because I earn enough. I generate enough revenue because I have regular work. I have steady work because I add value. And, I add value because I care about what I do.
My ability to have the freedom to do what I like is founded on this principle.
Here is another example if this, from this past week.
I travelled on British Airways from Kuala Lumpur to Stockholm via London.
In London, as we waited to depart, the captain made an announcement that he had noticed some fluid below the airplane while doing the pre-flight checks. The amount of fluid was large enough to alarm him. Therefore, he had asked for engineers to inspect it. He told us that he would come back with more information as soon as he knew what was going on.
Ten minutes later, Captain Wilkinson announced, in a rather grave voice, that the engineering team had confirmed that it was in fact, leaked hydraulic fluid from the aircraft’s braking system. He informed us that the engineers were evaluating whether the leakage was within a permissible range, and that he would come back to update us very soon.
Not more than ten minutes after this, he was back on the tannoy to let us know that the leak was not within an acceptable range. He explained that the replacement parts were being located, and gave his estimation on how long the work was going to take.
He came back soon with news that the parts were located but that they scattered all over the very large Heathrow airport vicinity, and that he was liaising with the airline’s management to decide if there was a better option.
Shortly thereafter, he came back to tell us that an alternative airplane was located. It was enroute to Heathrow, and would land in fifteen minutes. He continued appraising us on the situation every five to ten minutes. Eventually we moved to a new airplane, and took off approximately two hours after our original scheduled departure time.
When we landed at Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport, the captain stood at the entrance of the aircraft to bid each passenger farewell. He had made what could have been a terribly fractious and testy flight, into a manageable one, purely through his thoughtfulness in keeping us informed throughout the entire process. I know many pilots who should take a leaf out of his book.
Is Captain Wilkinson a valuable employee for his airline? I would say a resounding yes! Should he get paid handsomely for his job? Again, a resounding yes!
Why? Because he truly cares about what he does.
The question is; do you?
SHANKAR R. SANTHIRAM is managing consultant and executive leadership coach at EQTD Consulting. He is also the author of the national bestseller “So, You Want To Get Promoted?”