One of the Grounded In traits is regard for others. Now, most people think this simply incorporates being altruistic; being a decent human being. Not to say I do not think you should be those things. However, there is also other positive byproducts of keeping a high regard for others. Let me give you an example:
Recently, I was hired to deliver a keynote address for a financial services association located in the Midwest. As I always do, I make sure that I notify the meeting planner when I arrive on property the night before and coordinate any last minute changes. I always ask the meeting planner what I can do to assist them. They almost always say, “All is good, but thanks,” or words to that effect, which is exactly what this meeting planner told me.
About 30 minutes later, she was having a conversation with the A/V crew about how the program was going to open. She was asking if the A/V guy would do a voiceover offstage to introduce the association CEO. I could see that he was uncomfortable in doing the voiceover but didn’t want to disappoint the meeting planner. So I said, “I would be happy to do the voiceover for you”. “Would you?” asks the meeting planner. Sure! As it turns out, I actually do voiceovers and provided a booming “Voice of God” to introduce their CEO, getting the crowd riled up and starting the program off in an enthusiastic fashion.
Now, I was there to give a keynote, not to do a voiceover. I could have just sat by and let their program roll on and then do my thing, but I was in a position to offer something more. I could solve a problem for the meeting planner and save the A/V guy from an uncomfortable situation. In addition, that meeting planner will likely talk about how I was willing to do whatever I could to assist them in making their program a success.
Being Grounded means looking for ways to assist others and provide more than what we contract for. In the end, that attitude will probably bring more joy and return business your way!
Remind me to tell you sometime of when I offered to sing the national anthem at a banking conference. Now that was a value add …