Oh boy! Am I excited or what?! After a very long time, finally, I have the time and the opportunity to continue this series. We are now on Law No. 6 of our featured book from Rob Parsons. Let me repeat that law no. 6, :Keep the Common Touch.
In this chapter of the book, Rob mentioned a lot of anecdotes about people who never forgot to keep the common touch no matter where life had taken them.
What is the "common-touch" then? Let Parsons explain it to us. He said, "Remembering the common touch involves not taking ourselves too seriously, and making a habit of treating people with dignity, whatever their status in the Company. When we practice this, we discover some rather fascinating benefits. First, we will meet people on their way up the ladder. The head of the sales will remember how you dealt with her when she was a fresh-faced junior. Perhaps even more compelling is the fact that if ever you are forced to make your way down the ladder, it's best not to bump into those you stepped on, but are now on their way up. In short, you will make fewer enemies, but even more important than that - you will carry people with you as you try to implement your plans and strategies. People will give the benefit of the doubt more easily to those they respect and even simply like. And we should never forget how vital the goodwill of the 'foot soldiers' is to the success of any Company."
I think you will agree with me if I will say that every now and then there are people who, because they walk with kings, forget who prepare the food they dine at night. I am speaking figuratively and literally here. What people of high status commonly forget is that it is the people at the bottom who serves as the base, the foundation. Imagine any structure, what will happen if the foundation is weak? As it gets higher and as more and more are adding up, it will eventually collapse. I think, the people on top should consider this very carefully. You cannot reach higher if the base is weak and hollow. These are the people that the organization needs to be constantly minded of. These people we often see as nameless faces are the ones who can make or break every organization. It could be the security personnel who watches over your Company and your property at night. It could be the staff who keeps your office clean so that every morning, when you start your day, you will have everything in place. It could be your secretary, your assistant, who keeps records of all important meetings so you won't miss them. It could be the lowest person in your chain of command, the one who does all the menial and "dirty" jobs for you so you can achieve your goals. Never lose your common-touch with these people. You may never realize it, but they can be as important as you are in your organization.
Now, let me share this poem (with emphasis on the last stanza) as a reminder for all of us to keep the common touch.
IF by Rudyard Kipling
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream---and not make dreams your master;
If you can think---and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:.
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings---nor lose the common touch,If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And---which is more---you'll be a Man, my son!
In this chapter of the book, Rob mentioned a lot of anecdotes about people who never forgot to keep the common touch no matter where life had taken them.
What is the "common-touch" then? Let Parsons explain it to us. He said, "Remembering the common touch involves not taking ourselves too seriously, and making a habit of treating people with dignity, whatever their status in the Company. When we practice this, we discover some rather fascinating benefits. First, we will meet people on their way up the ladder. The head of the sales will remember how you dealt with her when she was a fresh-faced junior. Perhaps even more compelling is the fact that if ever you are forced to make your way down the ladder, it's best not to bump into those you stepped on, but are now on their way up. In short, you will make fewer enemies, but even more important than that - you will carry people with you as you try to implement your plans and strategies. People will give the benefit of the doubt more easily to those they respect and even simply like. And we should never forget how vital the goodwill of the 'foot soldiers' is to the success of any Company."
I think you will agree with me if I will say that every now and then there are people who, because they walk with kings, forget who prepare the food they dine at night. I am speaking figuratively and literally here. What people of high status commonly forget is that it is the people at the bottom who serves as the base, the foundation. Imagine any structure, what will happen if the foundation is weak? As it gets higher and as more and more are adding up, it will eventually collapse. I think, the people on top should consider this very carefully. You cannot reach higher if the base is weak and hollow. These are the people that the organization needs to be constantly minded of. These people we often see as nameless faces are the ones who can make or break every organization. It could be the security personnel who watches over your Company and your property at night. It could be the staff who keeps your office clean so that every morning, when you start your day, you will have everything in place. It could be your secretary, your assistant, who keeps records of all important meetings so you won't miss them. It could be the lowest person in your chain of command, the one who does all the menial and "dirty" jobs for you so you can achieve your goals. Never lose your common-touch with these people. You may never realize it, but they can be as important as you are in your organization.
Now, let me share this poem (with emphasis on the last stanza) as a reminder for all of us to keep the common touch.
IF by Rudyard Kipling
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream---and not make dreams your master;
If you can think---and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:.
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings---nor lose the common touch,If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And---which is more---you'll be a Man, my son!
