100 Business Days Out: Day 32 - Common Courtesy

Board meeting day. Once every other month I fly to Austin for a Board Meeting. I take these seriously, as I have been on the other end of the stick when a Director shows up for a meeting unprepared or late, hasn't read the material, wants the meeting to be over with before it starts, hurries through the presentations, spends all of their time on their Blackberry or email, and at the end of the meeting doesn't have anything much to add at all. Those who lead businesses need their Boards to be participative, active, prepared and provide value-added perspective and direction. If for nothing else, this is about common courtesy, which seems to be a waning "skill" these days. You see it every where don't you? From the parking spot derby that happens when the spot opens up, to the pushing and shoving during the boarding and de-boarding of the plane. I know that a lot of it has to do with our fast-paced, overly-scheduled lifestyles. One of the areas I am trying to work on within my downtime is to take the time to have the extra courtesy that once was common but today receives a raised eyebrow of marvel. Small things like opening the door for others, speaking to others on an elevator, wishing others to have a great day even when you don't know them. And, especially with the people I am involved with on the business front whether they be management teams, business partners, associates or friends. The extra kind word, the extra preparation, the extra question the shows you want to dig below the surface. The common courtesy that we should all strive to make a part of our everyday lives.