Why everyone needs to feel special now and then….
Why everyone needs to feel special now and then….
Guest Editorial • Winter 2021
The Business Culture Hull was first set up back in 2016. Over the last five years we’ve welcomed hundreds of members to our thriving community of like-minded individuals, making it a combined effort to shout about all of the brilliant things happening right here in Hull and East Yorkshire.
Our organisation was founded on a very clear ethos: people first, business second. We believe that people are the most valuable asset for any business, as they’re the ones who create, develop and apply a company’s core values, mission statement, vision and social strategy in everything they do. We’ve never lost sight of this, yet a couple of recent events really got me thinking about the power of people.
Earlier this month, a round table event saw the conversation turn to PMMFS, or Please Make Me Feel Special. We talked about how all of our members are unique and bring something special to our community, and in turn this makes The Business Culture Hull special in itself. We’re not a faceless business club that simply sends out the occasional email – Michelle and
I invest time, money and creativity into celebrating the amazing job our members do to keep the local economy innovative, resilient and full of exciting opportunities for mutual collaboration and growth.
In essence, it’s all about being human. If you get this right, you will never have to ask for a referral ever again. This is because your reputation will precede you and your business will flourish in return when people recognise that you’re great to work with. With this in mind, I’d like to share a story with you…
When I joined the army in 1983, I travelled to my first posting in West Berlin. On the way there via plane, I got chatting to a young officer. We got on great and he ended up commanding the Company I joined – A Coy. We worked together for six years until I left in 1989. That’s over thirty years ago and I haven’t heard from him since, as he doesn’t have a presence on any social media platforms… or so I thought.
Just a few days back, someone with no profile picture replied to one of
my LinkedIn posts. I was surprised to see he had the same name as that officer way back in the 1980s. Unsure whether it was the same guy, I sent him a private message and it turned out to be that very officer who I shared so many experiences with whilst in the army. I then took a look through his LinkedIn profile and was blown away by how much he had achieved since then.
He now holds a very senior position in the Armed Forces and has enjoyed a successful career filled with impressive achievements and milestones. Despite all those years without any contact, I was genuinely proud of him and his personal journey. Reading about it almost felt as if I’d been by his side that entire time.
What really amazed and humbled me was when he replied saying how proud he was of me in return. He had clearly kept an eye on my career development over the years but for security reasons had to remain anonymous on social media. The fact that he finally got in touch and we’re now chatting away like old times is an incredible feeling.
The moral of the story is that our private messages were pretty simple yet immensely powerful. We both thanked and congratulated each other, which has made me feel so happy and energised. To loop back to what I was saying earlier, it’s also made me feel special and I’m now more motivated than ever before.
So when it comes to your own business, my advice is this: reach out to your customers, your suppliers, the person you worked with decades ago and haven’t seen since. Rekindle that connection and tell them what they’ve brought to your life. Remind them of a special project, a shared experience, a funny joke – anything that makes them feel special. This isn’t about selling, it’s about sparking a human connection. I promise you it goes a long way and could lead to wonderful things.