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Character Counts

OpEd from the desk of Transporter Editor Reed Hollinshead

Several weeks ago at the Leadership Summit, we were challenged to winnow down a laundry list of character qualities to a Top Five that were absolutely essential to each individual – these were non-negotiable attributes.

One of mine was “Compassion” — and judging by what I see around me most days at ITD, it is a core quality for many of our employees. Whether you call it compassion, sympathy, concern for others, kindness, grace, or any other synonym, they are just words without actions to back them up.

Whether it is someone propping a door open when your hands are full, holding an elevator when they hear you trudging around the corner, visiting a fallen co-worker in the hospital, or helping you up when you slip on the ice, these actions speak volumes. They say, I care about my co-workers or friends, and value them as much as my own agenda.

Last winter, on a particularly nasty and slick day, some ITD execs shoveled the sidewalks and ferriec some of us to our vehicles. On many winter mornings, the maintenance guys shovel a path for me or throw rock salt in my parking spot. I hugely appreciate it!

We all are at different stages in life, and bring different skills or priorities to the table. Some are high-octane, fast burners quickly moving up. Some are in the midst of raising families, and safety and security is key to the stability they find most comforting. Some have been part of the working world for decades, and are focused now on empowering the younger generation to succeed. But no matter where you are on the spectrum, compassion can still be central to your character. It’s why when we treat each other with respect, dignity, even deference, it feels right.

Those characteristics are woven into us, and we almost always feel most fulfilled when we act in accordance with those traits.

There are a handful of them that most of us would say are on the short list — effectiveness, quality, integrity, wisdom, family, knowledge. There were a couple of them that have always been, and remain, beyond my grasp — Beauty, Mastery, and Wealth.

Compassion, though, is a choice I can make each day. What I see here at ITD says it is a choice that has already been made by many employees. It goes beyond just helping each other – helping each other succeed is the key.