A simple 'How are you?'

My manager went off on me earlier this week.  And it seemingly came out of nowhere.  I was getting verbally thrashed by my superior for something that I failed to do.  Note: I'm still new to the job and I was never told that it had to be done.  I go back to the OR feeling like a 4 yr old that just showed his parents his a bad report card and I just stole that last cookie from the cookie jar before dinner and used said cookie to write on the walls.  Yup, I felt that small.

But I began to think, what was the real reason behind the blow up?

When I saw my manager in the office I said I wanted to talk to him and I just asked one question. . .

"How are you?"

I asked it in a way that I was genuine and sincere and I was going to listen to your answer.  And I found out alot of things going on in his life which basically was the reason for the blow up.  I had no idea that he going through that much stuff.  With his home, family, career, if you heard what I heard him say, you would understand why he was a powder keg pressure cooker about to explode.

Which brings me to the title, "A simple 'How are you?'"

When was the last time you genuinely and sincerely asked someone how they were and actively listened to what they tell you?

When was the last time someone asked you how you were and you told them instead of saying the oh so common "I'm cool/good/aight/straight. You"?

Such a simple question with unlimited potential.

Keep on evolving people.


Here's to you,
Mr. Robinson