On Thanksgiving day, Paul Chaffee celebrated his 27th year at the US Postal Service.
He tells me that he’s very thankful, because, he says, “I have truly been able to do what I love in the service of people who have loved what I’ve done.”
I’m thankful for Paul’s generosity of heart, and for his willingness to share the Professional Love Note he recently wrote (and delivered) to Hannah Lohman, a carrier on his team. (You’ll see how beautifully he makes use of the guidelines outlined in my previous post).
Imagine you’re Hannah, and you just received a card from your boss with these words:
Dear Hannah,
Currently, if I were to pull a seniority list of the Zionsville Post Office, we would find Hannah Lohman’s name at or near the very bottom of the list. We are an experienced group and we don’t have a lot of turnover…you are just the newest of the bunch.
However, if I were to adjust that list a little bit, and create a ranked list of people who totally get it, with the “it” being the lofty workplace ideals that I toss out so freely each week from my speaker’s lectern, I’d simply have to place you at or near the top of the list. And I wanted to just THANK YOU and let you know how pleased Amy and I are (along with so many others in the group) that you are a part of our group here in Zionsville.
On Thursday, a couple of perfect examples of “it” came up. In the morning, Sara had forgotten a tray of FSS mail at the office. “No sweat”, Hannah says…“I’m heading out that way anyway…I’ll just take it to her.” Unfortunately, not every member of our group would have so readily volunteered to do something like that for another person.
You NEVER hesitate for a moment; it’s who you are and it’s what you do.
Later in the afternoon, I find out that Dana is toast on Rural 8. The beast had her in its grasp, and we were facing non-deliveries or a very late night from her if she didn’t have help. One quick phone call to Hannah, and it is “not a problem – I’m on it” from the other end of the phone.
You jump into action, take a bunch of mail from her, bail us all out, and you both get back by 6PM. In your mind, it’s probably “no big deal”…in my mind, it is a H-U-G-E deal, because it is an action and an attitude that nearly EXACTLY replicates in real life what we talk about as our workplace ideals…and that’s where the “leadership” tie in comes in.
You’ve chosen to have a love of the business. That LOVE of the business creates an ENERGY in you that drives you to do great things in the workplace. You use that energy in AUDACIOUS and creative ways…and you PROVE your dedication every day through your extreme efforts – not just in your own work, but in “being there” for others when they need a boost as well. That’s it…the LEAP…Love, Energy, Audacity, and Proof. You’ve probably never read the book…but you live the story. Thanks so much for all you do, Hannah…
Paul, PT is my little brother. Believe it when you read it….. He LOVES what he is doing, he is AUDACIOUS in his approach with incredible ENERGY, the outcome provides the PROOF that “he” is changing the world. Steve (big bro) gave us the books, I used what I learned to change my family’s lives and PT truly is “living” the concepts at a level only few achieve. NICE!
This is just
one of many examples of notes of gratitude from Paul to a team member. I know,
because I am one who also was on the receiving end of many a note from Paul.
And you know, I’ve saved every one. Every once in a while I’ll run across one
and read it; not to boost my ego; but to stay balanced and in line with what it
feels like to exercise true leadership skills.
Thank you
Paul for putting into action Extreme leadership, and thank you Steve for
writing the books. I’ve never been the same since Paul not only introduced your
books to his group, but by experiencing first-hand how effective extreme
leadership is. I know that my source of good does not come from my job or my
title. It comes from the experiences I have when I put aside all fear and treat
people as they should be treated; with love. It comes from truly loving my
organization, the people in it, the customers and our very mission so much,
that the actions I once viewed as “risky” have become the daily norm.
And I love how free that makes me feel! Being thrown under the bus just might
not be the worst thing in the world. It’s surprising to find the opportunities
that arise from it.
This is just
one of many examples of notes of gratitude from Paul to a team member. I know,
because I am one who also was on the receiving end of many a note from Paul.
And you know, I’ve saved every one. Every once in a while I’ll run across one
and read it; not to boost my ego; but to stay balanced and in line with what it
feels like to exercise true leadership skills.
Thank you
Paul for putting into action Extreme leadership, and thank you Steve for
writing the books. I’ve never been the same since Paul not only introduced your
books to his group, but by experiencing first-hand how effective extreme
leadership is. I know that my source of good does not come from my job or my
title. It comes from the experiences I have when I put aside all fear and treat
people as they should be treated; with love. It comes from truly loving my
organization, the people in it, the customers and our very mission so much,
that the actions I once viewed as “risky” have become the daily norm.
And I love how free that makes me feel! Being thrown under the bus just might
not be the worst thing in the world. It’s surprising to find the opportunities
that arise from it.
This is just another example of Paul’s ability to take the CRAP, GUNK, YUK and SLUDGE out of the Postal equation. Paul has always led by example, he Talk’s the Talk, but he also Walks the Walk. Paul’s philosophy has alweays been, “Do things Differently because you View things Differently.” Feel free to do the best job you can, think outside the box. If you know Paul you will know what that quote means.
Paul has been instrumental in several people being promoted into Managerial positions within the Postal Service by just being the motivating person he is and more than anything, just being a friend. Myself included. Paul can get you to see the BIG picture. Thank you Paul for ALL YOU DO, you make the Postal Service a BETTER place.
D.