Day-to-Day Swish

Are you a good host?

When folks are at your place, do you make them comfortable? Attend to their needs?

Hopefully you say things like, Make yourself at home! Do your thing! Mi casa es su casa! The idea is to both set them at ease and fuel a little excitement. Yes?

If you hear that your guests want to do a certain thing together, let’s say, play spin the bottle or cards or something, do you rummage through your stuff to find an empty bottle or deck of cards? Probably.

If they make a mess—let’s say, cause glass to shatter due to some silly mistake (serves you right)--do you assure them it’s okay, and find ways to simply and easily get things back under control? I’m sure.

Do you partake in the party itself, role modeling the ideal party guest? Hope so.

Essentially, the activities of the host make a big difference to a party’s success: mingling, smoothing the way, connecting people, anticipating and meeting their needs and wants, keeping things flowing, interesting, safe, and fun.

Now, here’s the point: I firmly believe that the above description of the good host is also the approach of a good leader. Not to say that this sums up the essence of leadership—no, that would require a discussion of vision and strategy—but when it comes to the day-to-day swish, for me, this is it.

So, here's the predictable question: as a leader, are you such a host?