The Honeymooners

I didn’t want to do it…but I knew it was the right thing to do.

We were walking through our apartment complex parking lot after retrieving the mail. We noticed a car, covered in “just married” paint and signage. Though there were no bride and groom to be found, the headlights were left on. A simple mistake like leaving the lights on was understandable, given the mysterious happy couple had a marriage to christen! Would you want to wake up the day after your wedding to a dead car battery? Of course not! Would you want a neighbor to interrupt whatever activity you may or may not be engaged in on the night after your wedding to make you aware of your mistake?

Of course you would….I think.

I had seen the same car, without graffiti, the day prior. A few people were unloading some small furniture pieces from the car into the apartment across from ours.

I had no excuse, because I knew where they lived. This is what neighbors are for, right?

I knocked on the door. No answer. My awkward-meter topped out as I knocked again, a little harder this time. Silence. At least I tried, right? I heard some clamor inside as I was stepping away. I froze just as the door was opened slightly. A two inch opening in the door frame revealed a nearly naked, confident young man with a furrowed brow. I apologized profusely and explained the situation. He said nothing, shut the door, and flipped the deadbolt. Not only did he seem ungrateful, he did not even seem concerned. One-track mind, I presume.

Are you willing to have hard conversations? If you are willing to face the awkwardness, fear, and guilt of confrontation head on, your business will be better for it. This type of candor and honesty might cause friction in the moment, but will result in respect in the long-run.

Choose your words very carefully so as not to place the an individual on the defense. Disarm their fears and do not allow them to feel attacked or singled-out. Assure them of your genuine concern for their future well-being. No matter what, do not soften the blow out of pity. Say what needs to be said with as much tact as humanly possible. In the end, they may seem ungrateful and unconcerned, but remember you cannot control their actions. Simply be a good steward of your responsibility to be a faithful leader. In most occasions, you must be determined to steward the business over any one individual in your organization. Even when the door is shut in your face, still look for ways to serve the individual in question.

I found myself standing alone on my neighbor’s barely used welcome mat. I walked back out to their car and tried the door handle. In line with my one-track mind theory, the door was left unlocked. I reached in and turned off the lights. I did not, however, feel the need to clean off their car!

We’ll help you recruit great business people for your growing company, but we hope you’ll continue to invest in them as they grow as well. We do staffing Atlanta better than anyone else and are excited to serve you!