Our Moment After the Moment

Gary Burnison is CEO of Korn Ferry and the author of Love, Hope & Leadership: A Special Edition.

“It’s the life of the eternally damned—constantly striving for the next thing. The joy in the moment was always fleeting.”

With those words, Mark Richardson, a senior member of our Consulting team in London, recalled for me recently the height of his athletic career—as an Olympic medalist and a world-class runner. With victory came elation, but it was quickly eclipsed by focusing on the next championship… and the one after that.

Then, just recently, came a celebration that Mark truly savored—nearly three decades in the making. Mark (far left in the image) and his teammates from the British men’s team stood on the podium at London Stadium before 60,000 cheering fans. Around their necks, they wore the gold medals they received 28 years after the fact—for winning the 4x400 meter relay race at the 1997 World Athletics Championships after the original first-place team was disqualified.

It was a rare moment after the moment—that occurred at exactly the right time.

“If that gold medal podium had happened in 1997, it would have become an echo of history that I told my children about,” reflected Mark, whose daughters are 11 and 17 years old. “Instead, they were there with me—along with my wife and our close friends—truly feeling and embracing the atmosphere. And it was magical.”

Milestones are momentary. But moments can become monumental when they are recognized, celebrated, and shared with others.  There are leadership lessons here for all of us.

Name the six wealthiest people in the world. Name seven people honored as Time Magazine’s Person of the Year. Name the last five winners of the World Cup. Name four of the biggest-selling box office movies in the last twelve years.

Admittedly, I could not come up with more than a name or two. And that’s precisely the point.

Now, try this….

Name a teacher who made a positive impact on your life. Name one friend who has always been there for you. Think of someone who truly inspired you to be better.

A lot easier to answer, isn’t it?

These are the people who truly influence our lives—who by their words and actions, genuinely make a difference. Simply because they care.

Now, tell me the last time you reached out to them to celebrate their success and tell them about the impact they had on your life.

This is the job of leaders—relating to, connecting with, and acknowledging others. It’s the emotional side of leadership—tapping into the power of affiliation. And, as our firm’s research shows, it’s a major motivator.

For leaders, this means ensuring our heads are on a swivel, constantly gazing in all directions and at people throughout the organization. Or, as leadership guru Ken Blanchard likes to say, “It’s catching people doing things right.”

Because here’s the thing. Two of the most powerful words we can say are “thank you” in all its forms, including “I see you,” “I appreciate you,” “You make a difference.”

Indeed, that’s what makes a monumental moment for others.

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