You Are Always Center Stage

By Pat Ferdinandi

Every actor, whether they are the lead, supporting actor or just have a cameo appearance prepares for his/her part. Each strives to be his/her best. Why? Because they do not know who is in the audience. They do not know who is watching. They never know where this part they play will lead. Someone in the audience may just think of them for something they are working on today or five years from now.

My husband received a general eMail requesting if anyone knew where the author of a particular report was working. They could not find the person in the company directory. They knew that the report was old (actually 5 years old) but had a great deal of information that was still valid today. They were hoping to talk with the author in hopes that they had the information they could use to update the report.

The reason why they could not find the individual was that I had left the company. I also got married and was using my married name. My husband called and read me the eMail. I immediately called Manny back with information on where they could find updated information.

Think about this. I wrote the report five years earlier. It was about technology that was now out-of-date. However, the way the report was organized; it could easily be updated with newer information. The report was easy to read and follow five years later. In fact, the report was easy to update...thus saving the new author time.

Bottom line, the report was still valuable. Because I kept my knowledge up to date, I was still providing value. I was able to help someone I didn't know by pointing them in the direction to where they could get what they needed. That saved him a great deal of time-something he was grateful for and would remember.

While talking to Manny, I discovered that the report was given to him by a senior IT executive. He was one of the receivers of the original report. Wow, an executive kept a report for 5 years! What's even more amazing is that he remembered it five years later. He found it under what could have been a very large pile of other documents he may have kept or produced.

Think about it in terms of you. How many of your reports are kept by recipients five years later? What are the chances that you might be called to help refresh the information?

I didn't produce this report alone. I told Manny that I was part of a team that worked hard to prepare this report. We gave it our best with the current knowledge of the time. We organized the report with the executive in mind. We had meaningful titles, chapter summaries, and detail in the back. We wrote it with different needs in mind. In one report, we had high level and detail available for the reader, allowing them to choose when and how much information they felt they needed. I gave Manny the names of those I thought would also be of help to him.

Manny mentioned something else to me. When he told the executive that he had found "Pat Smith," Chris, the executive, was thrilled. Chris mentioned that I was a great source. I was someone that was easy to talk to and was very knowledgeable. Chris mentioned that he would trust whatever information I provided. Manny, from our brief telephone conversation, agreed with Chris.

This was one of my key lessons in life. I always tried to do my best with any assignment I was given. This was, however, the first time I had actually seen the impact of something I wrote and the longevity of my attitude in developing it. I didn't realize that I was center stage when I produced that report. Five years later, the work I had done that was to help make a decision still had an impact. Five years later, the attitude I had towards others was still remembered.

From that point on, I knew to remind myself that every day and every interaction with business executives, co-workers, and unknown associates, is a center stage moment. I never know who is in the audience and the impact it will have on others.

Think of this in terms of you. If you are an actor aiming for that Golden Globe Award you would practice, practice, practice. You would study your trade continually. You would be kind to all in your field because you would not know what promotions or job opportunities they will get whereby they need your services. Every deliverable, whether it is code or document, would be produced to the best of your ability because you do not know how long it will be kept. You will never know who will find it useful years from now.

To play it safe, remind yourself ever day with every interaction these five scenarios:

• I do not know where this person will go. Let me be pleasant and helpful so he remembers the value I have.
• I do not know who this person knows. Let me smile and be courteous to him.
• I do not know who will read this eMail as it may be forwarded today, tomorrow, or years from now to someone I do not know. Let me be clear, concise and provide valuable information to illustrate my value.
• I do not know how long this document will remain accessible or who will keep it and share it with others. Let me write and organize it for all types of readers so they may find the value quickly and try to find me years from now.
• I do not know who is in the audience during my presentation or with whom they may discuss what they heard. Let me practice often so I present myself with confidence and be memorable.

Yes, the quality of the report I produced, with the help of many great people, was important. What was more important was how Chris remembered me. That led to more opportunities. That led to great references. That led to positive memories. That is my legacy, my Golden Globe.

Perform every act as if you are center stage.

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