What are you feeding people?

We are well into the festive season of office parties and social gatherings. Some are official, others are spur-of-the-moment, but most include the lively exchange of conversation coupled with the celebratory consumption of tasty food.

Party planners put a lot of thought into the menu. Are there special diets to accommodate? What kind of food fits the occasion? How does this year’s food compare with what was served last year, and is it better to be consistent or offer up something new?

But what about the thought we put into our conversations and connections? With your words and your presence, what else are you feeding people? What forethought has gone into the menu of energy, discussion, and relationship building that you’ve prepared for your holiday gatherings?

While people are eating and sipping a beverage they are going to talk to you. What you say and who you are being at that party – whether as the host, a business leader or a member of the community – is an important ingredient that can leave others feeling satiated or starving.

Before your next gathering this holiday season, give some thought to the question of who are you being. What do you want to offer others with your presence? What will you let others contribute to you? What might people need, and what can you authentically provide? Do you want to be predictable, or surprising?

As a leader, you may want to leave others with the sense that they are capable beyond their own beliefs. Feed them *transcendence by helping them see things in new ways, by recognizing and encouraging new and bold ideas, and by showing a strong sense of your own purpose so that you inspire others with your words and actions.

As a team member or colleague, you may wish to serve up the sustenance of trust and *accountability. Prepare the menu for each interaction by looking for ways to take responsibility and acknowledge what is real. Be honest and transparent in your communications and compassionately hold others to the same standard.

This season, I will consciously use my presence to feed others. I want the people around me to know I am truly listening and that I am listening for them. I will filter how I listen so I hear their spark, their interests, and their concerns. I will tune in to what they care about and what will make a difference. By listening this way, I will provide recognition of their *humanity, and the awareness that they are valid and important. In my experience, right now, people are starving for others who will slow down, be present and listen. This is the sustenance my menu will provide.

What will you feed people?

*Trancendence, accountability, and humanity are three of the 11 dimensions of Leader Character as defined by Crossan, Seijts, and Gandz in their research and book Developing Leadership Character. If you want to learn more about how to access and refine leadership character in yourself and others, I can help. DM me or schedule an introductory chat here.