‘People don’t remember what you told them, they remember how you made them feel.’ - Maya Angelou
A friend of mind once told me how he shared a first class cabin with one of the world’s most renowned chefs.
He was quietly excited to be seated behind the great cooking luminary, a Michelin starred chef whom he admired greatly and was naturally curious to see how we interacted with the airline staff and people around him.
To his utter disappointment, this great man soon showed his true colours, resorting into loud demands of the staff on board, cursing, name-calling, abuse and a shockingly arrogant attitude.
Needless to say my friend was left with a bad taste in his mouth about his former kitchen hero.
He even contemplated throwing out his cookbooks, totally put out and disgusted by what he’d witnessed.
This is just one example of many stories that percolate below the surface of a celebrity or leader’s public persona.
We've all heard stories of leaders and celebrities not being who they project themselves to be in real life. We get shocked, saddened and disappointed as we realise they’re only human, and the human side of them has decided to be a little more base than normal.
Here’s the lesson for us: The emotion you leave people with shouldn’t be confined to the spotlight. It’s probably more important how you act - and what you mean - when you’re off the spotlight and off camera than when you’re in the limelight and on show.
People watch and make conclusions … and the truly wise amongst us are more interested in who you are when the cameras stop rolling.
Whether you’re a business entrepreneur, a key opinion leader or celebrity, understand that the ultimate responsibility of the platform you’ve been given is to truly impact and uplift others.
Not grasping this could be the very thing that leads to a poor reputation and over time, the loss of your influence.
Every moment you interact with others is a chance to build further meaning and should be approached as so.
Whether it’s an internal meeting, an external presentation, a small or big event, a phone call, an email, lunch at your favourite restaurant or a board meeting – there is always space to convey the unique meaning of you who truly are and evoke the feelings that are distinct to it.
However, being in the public eye can get daunting and it can be very draining.
Don’t feel shy to politely ask for space or time out when in public. Just add a smile and an attitude of grace as you walk away.
Insight Inspiration:
Truly emotive brands, leaders and influencers are continually thinking of new ways to reconfigure, reshape, redefine, and enhance the moments they have with their customers, fans, followers and the public – on and off the camera.
They conscientiously infuse true care, concern emotion and meaning at every moment they mingle with others in subtle, yet powerful ways.
This requires creativity and dedication to making every moment meaningful. It means truly enjoying your calling and purpose.
It also means setting clear boundaries in a respectful manner and knowing when to say no, graciously.
The question is, do you understand the responsibility of the platform you’ve been given to truly impact and uplift others?
And how do you want to be remembered when you're off the platform and away from the spotlight?
Think on it.
