Simple Kindness

Mary T. O’Sullivan, GE portrait 1985

Working at GE many years ago (GE official portrait included), my expectations for work were set. My immediate supervisor taught me everything she knew, but also treated me like family. Every lunch hour in the warm months, she organized us into a game of trivial pursuit . No matter we were behind a chain link fence and old cinder block buildings, we were happy to be outside having fun with our office mates. In winter, she played bridge while I shopped at a nearby mall or joined others for games during lunch. We had a great team spirit even though the buildings were strictly industrial and the environment was very corporate . When I moved on to other companies, my expectations changed. Instead of friendly I found competitiveness, backstabbing and jealously. Later, I found other companies to be ultra poliitical and felt the shock of betrayal and disloyalty. Instead of team, there was the “anything to get ahead” culture. It made me sad and bitter. After 30 years, I learned that simple kindness, consideration and inclusion offered by a single person is more valuable than anything corporate training provides.

Let’s have a conversation. Call me at 401-742-1965.