“I hope you’re well”.
One fine afternoon, I sat down with one of my designers. It was one of my routines where I do bi-weekly catch-ups, traditionally known as one-on-one. During the talk, I noticed her expression and mood was gloomy. It was not her usual behaviour pattern.
Abruptly I asked
“Hey, are you OK?”
She replied
“Yeah, I’m OK”
I asked again
“Are you really OK? Looks like you have a lot on your mind. I’m all ears and here for you.”
She shed tears
“No, I’m not really OK. My dog died…”
I was speechless. I didn’t know how to respond to that heartbreaking news. Didn’t know what to say. I was crying inside.
Too personal for me to cover the entire conversation here.
Dear leaders, if there’s anything, I want to remind myself and you: When you’re asking people “How are you?”, take a step back and ask like you really mean it. Say it with deep care. Say it with your heart. You’ll be amazed how simple that question may be, yet it can be so powerful.
In your next catch-up, remember to not just “hope.” Don’t say “I hope you’re well.” Instead, ask, “How are you? Are you really OK?”
Ikram Faidzal 