Letter on the Third — February 2023

Dear Datamax Family,

Last month, I was fortunate enough to attend the Executive Connection Summit event, hosted by my good friend and industry veteran Michael Stramaglio. One morning, I was asked to offer up a prayer as the day got started.

Here’s a portion of that prayer, which I think very much applies to the subject matter of this month’s newsletter: “Lord, let us not forget in our busy days that others depend on us and we depend on others… Let us disregard what the world owes us and concentrate on what we owe the world.”

Let’s face it. Interruptions are inevitable. In the workplace, your day will include at least a few unexpected tasks, a few visitors to your cubicle/office, or an email with a sense of urgency that you hadn’t anticipated that day. So how do we handle them? It’s important to remember that, in our busy days, we remember that we depend on others and they depend on us.

There’s a reason we included #14 in the Little Blue Book: “Deal With Interruptions Positively.”

Dealing With Interruptions Deals With Respect.

Principle #14 came along all the way back in 1995. At the time that we as a group were developing the key philosophies and principles of the Little Blue Book, everyone was busy. We were growing fast. Along the way, we talked openly about how if someone calls while we’re working on something, or certainly if a customer calls in, we need to handle it as if they are the most important person talking right now. Not just shrug our shoulders and say, “I’m busy.” Our customers and our co-workers deserve our respect.

In addition, that respect goes both ways: the person with the question or need should ask for a quick moment, or help directing them to the right person. Not barging into someone’s office thinking, he or she was just sitting around waiting for their request.

Dealing With Interruptions Deals With Passion.

Are you passionate about what you do? That makes a big difference in how you handle interruptions. In any given day, I’ll have people stop into my office. Some just to say hi. Others have a unique question or concern. I get calls from other offices throughout any given day. I want each one of these people to know that their needs are important to me. Is it quick? We can probably visit right now. If not, we may have to schedule a time to talk through it. However, acknowledgment and concern are so important.

I also like to walk the building every morning greeting people, high-fiving them, and telling them to have a great day. What I’m getting at: Interruptions done correctly can be positive. People who know me know that I’m passionate about the company, passionate about our people, and passionate about our Little Blue Book. This spirit can be contagious. Let us not forget in our busy days that others depend on us and we depend on others… Let us disregard what the world owes us and concentrate on what we owe the world.

The Best is Yet to Be.