My engagement to Rudy
Posted by Esther Fabian : September 30th, 2009I’d like to introduce you to somebody I met this morning.
This morning I was heading from my daily radiation treatment to my office and coming up a stairwell. A custodian stepped aside and said something I couldn’t quite understand. I stopped, asked him to repeat himself, and he told me that he always stops to let a woman pass. I joked that the two of us had plenty of room to pass each other, but he said his gesture was made out of respect.
Now I’m not exactly a “traditional” woman in the stereotypical sense, but I found this man’s manners to be refreshing. What was even more refreshing is that his kind gesture was a catalyst for a short conversation. Noticing an unfamiliar accent, I asked where he was originally from. I learned that Rudolph (who, I found out from two of his co-workers later goes by “Rudy) came to the United States from Ghana in West Africa (he’s got a great accent, by the way). He asked what department I work in and where my office was.
John Nance, author of Why Hospitals Should Fly, visited our campus this summer and made numerous presentations to students, faculty and staff. He talked about the importance of mutual respect and personal connections in a hospital setting, and how it ultimately can result in safer care for patients.
Rudolph and I aren’t treating the sick or injured, necessarily, but we engaged. That may not seem like a very big deal, but it was to me. You see, now I will always make eye contact and say hello to Rudolph when I see him. If there’s a piece of trash on the floor, I will think, “Maybe I ought to help Rudolph out and pick this up.”
So, I ask those of you reading this – would you be willing to share ways – however small – that you engage with the folks with whom you work? Or maybe share a new habit you’ve decided to make in order to be more engaging with the folks around you.
I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Tags: positive attitude, workplace culture
Esther Fabian is the director of health care marketing at The University of Toledo. Although she is a graduate of Bowling Green State University, Esther has willingly traded in brown and orange for the blue and gold. Over her nine years of employment at the institution, she continues to be fascinated by the incredible things that UT Medical Center professionals do every day to help people and loves learning about the many aspects of health care through those exceptional people. Esther hopes to use this journal to give folks a peek into the world of UT Medical Center, and maybe an occasional glimpse into the world of a working mom and owner of many, many pets.
Email this author | All posts by Esther Fabian
September 30th, 2009at 2:19 pm
Thanks for your good thoughts about relating to our fellow workers. We all have different experiences that have brought us to the same workplace, doing a variety of different jobs. There is a lot we can learn from each other, especially from those whose backgrounds and responsibilities differ from our own.
September 30th, 2009at 2:50 pm
Its amazing what a smile or kind word from a stranger can do to brighten our day!! My son is always teasing me about “talking to strangers” but how else can you meet other people. Communication is essential to our humanness. Thank you for sharing your “warm fuzzy”.
September 30th, 2009at 3:11 pm
Very nice heading; it truly caught my eye and made me read more. How glad I am to have continued reading your story. I walk down the hallways and always try to make contact with my fellow TEAM members or students. Like Laurie, my daughter teases me too and says that I could talk with anyone. How right she is! It is those small gestures of hello or a warm smile that just might make someone’s day or make my day brighter.
September 30th, 2009at 3:23 pm
Thanks you for that sharing your sweet encounter…I too try to wear a smile on my face and try very hard not to form an opinion of someone or something that is happening as I meet someone in the hallway or workplace. Stories as these have a way of bringing us back down to earth. We are all trying to fit into this vast place called EARTH–a smile and a few words to each other just might do the trick!
September 30th, 2009at 4:42 pm
Thank you so much for sharing. I too try to make eye contact and feel a smile can go a long way. During these tough economic times I feel a smile has a chance of uplifting spirits. In addition I also have met Rudy and he is such a sweet man with a very respectful manner. He made it a pleasure helping him with his pc problems because of his uplifting manner.
September 30th, 2009at 5:03 pm
Wouldn’t it be nice if we all did this??!!
September 30th, 2009at 5:04 pm
I find that when you are truly interested in people you have some of the most enlightening conversations. My children, too, always say I could talk to anyone and often question why I can hear stories on an elevator and intimate life details of someone they swear I must know but I have never met before. I like to think it is because I am approachable and authentic in my interest in others. It certainly makes the day more pleasant and interesting. Thanks for sharing.
September 30th, 2009at 10:16 pm
Over the past few months a find myself reading fewer and fewer contibutions to Pulse. By and large the contibutors have very little to say, and what they do write is usually about “me” and “how I spent my vacation”. It is also disturbing to read contributions to a University publication that have poor sentence structure and grammar. Conversely, your contributions are always engaging and minus braggadocio. Great human interest with obvious passion and compassion. Thanks.
September 30th, 2009at 11:15 pm
I work on the main campus at UT. I make it a point to have meetings as much as possible on the Health Science Campus for two reasons.
One reason is to get to know the facilities better and learn about our sister campus. However, the main reason is to meet my colleagues on the Health Science Campus. Each time I venture out I make a point of meeting at least five new people each time I make the very short treck to the health science campus.
Today I was there for an appointment and met Aaron Flynn from IT, and Sandy Flick in the Dowling Building. What friendly and personable people. I also was able to see Life Flight land and view the personnel from this wonder in action. Impressive to say the least.
As the saying goes somewhat modified, “Reach Out Reach Out and meet someone”. There are alot of special people on our campus we have yet to meet.
October 1st, 2009at 7:55 am
Rudy is always a warm friendly person, without the ICARE program. We need more like him!
October 1st, 2009at 8:14 am
What a wonderful inspiring story. Thank you for inspiring us to want to reach out and connect with those we come in contact with, whether it is our patients, visitors, students, or collegues. Making those engagements is what makes work and life fun and rewarding. Keep up the great articles.
October 1st, 2009at 9:59 am
The past 10 days I have found myself at UTMC as a guest and patient and have had some wonderful encounters.
Yesterday I went to the hospital cafeteria at 6:45 p.m. with my two young sons and my 2-year old was crying because he wanted his dinner before I could get it paid. A dietary worker came over with a packet of graham crackers, opened them and gave one to Jack. The girl who was ringing me out commented that I had a handful of things to carry and went got me a bag and then bagged my boxes. What a wonderful experience, especially knowing I was there in the last moments of their long work day.
Kudos to all of you, it’s these small gestures that make a big difference.
October 2nd, 2009at 9:52 am
It’s good to know that kindness is still being discovered and practiced. I have a brochure on my desk, Healthy Alternatives, Civility at Work: 20 Ways to Build a Kinder Workplace. It’s beautiful to read, practice and share. I work in a customer service department. It’s very important to me to share a smile and to calm anger.
When I read, where this person is from , it was no surprise to me; his mannerism, because I totally relate, even though I am an American. Politeness is something we all should practice at all times. Peace around the world can begin with consideration of others, kindness, honesty, and politeness.