The 101 of Business & Life:
In one of my very first roles early on in my career, I worked in Business Development for DHL in the Middle East. One of the first things I learnt was how to create the conditions for a successful exchange. Presence, provide context, share information. Create connection. I also learnt some basic boardroom etiquette. Greet everyone! Not just the boss. The tea lady and secretaries are more powerful than you might care to believe. And they’re interesting too. (Top tip: the tea boy or chaiwala will know the best Indian or curry take out and Iranian hot breads nearby) Starting with tea or coffee, one doesn’t dive directly into business. Instead, we would ask about one another, the family, leading into business and life in general. The best relationships would mean we were talking about hopes, dreams, inspired visions, loves and fears. This created meaningful, shared common ground. It added richness of detail and colour to a canvass upon which we could build. With open gestures, eye-to-eye, hand-to-hand, building trust and respect at every step.
There’s a lot of power in meeting someone else, be it a stranger or even someone we know. The unscripted, mysterious, uncontrollable nature of a serendipitous exchange makes it exciting. Full of possibilities. So much to learn. About others, their cultures and ways, and also about oneself. I cherish these moments. This is a big part of my why. The people, their cultures, learning to improve myself every day; finding joy and a lot of energy in the process. With a little luck maybe even inspiring someone else to smile in their day... :) #humanperspectives #business #leadership #relationships #myimpact #serendipity #culture #travel #skills #smile #presence #energy #riseandshine
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