Sometimes a great story or resource is right under your nose, but you will never know until you ask.
Recently on a flight to St. Louis, Erica and I had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of a former Senate Press Secretary that has held various high profile ties to Major League Baseball- one of my favorite sports to discuss. While we fall on different sides of the political aisle on most things, we had a great conversation that lasted the whole flight! I learned quite a few things about Jackie Robinson, the Red Sox, President Nixon, and more from this elderly gentleman.
Take time to get to know those around you. Everyone has their own story to tell and you’re likely to learn something. This is especially true in the workplace. Leaders too often miss opportunities to capitalize on the skill sets of their teams by failing to get to know them. Your janitor just might know a way to save twenty percent on your power bill, or your accountant might see a way to improve the communications system in your office. Take time to get to know your team. It’s not only a nice thing to do, but often a profitable one as well.