HOW IS NORMA?
A sweet grandmother telephoned St. Joseph 's Hospital. She timidly asked, "Is it possible to speak to someone who can tell me how a patient is doing?"
The operator said, "I'll be glad to help, dear. What's the name and room number of the patient?"
The grandmother in her weak, tremulous voice said,
"Norma Findlay, Room 302."
The operator replied, “Let me put you on hold while I check with the nurse's station for that room."
After a few minutes, the operator returned to the phone and said, "I have good news. Her nurse just told me that Norma is doing well. Her blood pressure is fine; her blood work just came back normal and her physician, Dr. Cohen, has scheduled her to be discharged tomorrow."
The grandmother said, "Thank you. That's wonderful. I was so worried. God bless you for the good news."
The operator replied, "You're more than welcome. Is Norma your daughter?"
The grandmother said, "No, I'm Norma Findlay in Room 302. No one tells me anything."
First I laughed.
Then I re-read it.
It struck me as fatal and true.
Here is what I think you can do and should do...
I write on customer service too, but this is not where I do it. This is about personal success and lets talk about that. 'Are you a Norma?' @work your colleagues will come up to you and tell you that the boss is angry with you. you wonder what you did. you want to know, you want to ask, but who, how? @home everyone around you seems to think you are lazy. one fine day when a loved one loses it on you, you wonder why did they not tell you anything sooner? @friends they want to tell you that you are making a mistake. but none of them do. some coz they fear you, some coz they think you may not care, some just think you might take it to heart. do you go out of your way to ask them? to seek feedback? on your work, on yourself, on your actions? are you a Norma? the other question here is 'are you the nurse?' @work to tell everyone about the person who screwed up, you probably share stories with your boss about your colleagues. are you telling the person involved? @home you think you are being nice by not saying anything. you think you are pouring love on a loved one when you let them take an extra bite of something you know is harmful. you then complain to everyone else how they dont listen @friends 'she is making a big mistake' said this ever? try saying 'I think you are making a big mistake' there, now you are no longer the nurse. the intention has to be backed by action. talk, listen, communicate, share. care. Prabhjot Bedi p.s. If there is something you are not able to tell your boss/loved one/friend and want to know how you can or how you should, leave it in comments or write to me at mail@prabhjotbedi.com |      |
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