I was with my manager one day and she had a phone call. She answered the call, it was from a whistle blower, reporting a staff who was said to have made careless omissions in her tasks. The manager doubted the report and asked the caller whether she was sure. I think you are mistaken because Stella has maintained untainted record in that unit, she said. There must be a mix-up somewhere, but we would investigate further, she added. I was wowed, a manager defending a staff member who has an unblemished track record at work. Such enviable credentials!. And
It begs the question whether such could be said of me.
It is a big fallacy to think that working hard or being committed to duties or having an untarnished identity is solely for our personal benefits or for the work remunerations or instant reward. No, it is way beyond that. The influence we exert, from childhood to adulthood, in our immediate and remote environment, are under scrutiny by multiples eyes from multiple angles. These accumulate with time, to recycle the opportunities and the advantages we have in life.Therefore, they are not hobbies to be fiddled with but ethical values to be intentionally built and forged through our impression on people.
The heights of success we attain are basically through the help of people. Those that are instrumental to it are those who believe they’re investing right by choosing us. We should guide our compass well through the minds of those who witness what we do and how we do it. If not, we can fall off the wagon either by our actions, verbal expressions, body language or bad attitude.
It is never too late to make a difference in the space we occupy. It may be something as simple as accepting a mistake and responsibility, being honest, respecting others choices, to making dutiful impacts at home, school, work and so on. They are usually conscious efforts and choices made amongst many other choices that may be more convenient, easier or promise quicker results.
Witnesses are watching. As they watch, they are impacted in different ways and dimensions. Some take their behaviour cues from what they observe, some watch to recommend and uplift us for higher offices, some watch to help us develop more skills or build relational intelligence, and the list goes on. Having people who believe in us is enough strength and security, as well as an opportunity not to let zoom by.
What impression are you making? What examples are you setting? Is your character worthy of emulation? Are your utterances and conducts appealing or appalling? What Identity have you forged? Does your path blaze towards positivity, productivity and progress? Are your actions commendable or remarked upon by others? These questions and more should help spark an unbiased self- reflection and introspection of how to get the best out of ourselves.
The opportunity to do the right thing doesn’t always come. When it comes especially when it involves the public, make good use of it. Send a powerful message. Don’t say you don’t care whether you’re being watched. Be authentic and make the conscious effort to do the right thing knowing you may be under the gaze of a pair of eyes of both the good and the bad people.
There is something more to life which is unveiled by consciously or unconsciously sticking to one’s goals, surmounting life challenges, working smart with an unwavering determination to make impact on people and to a larger extent, the world around us.
At any point in life, we are either a witness or the witnessed, or both, in others bearing in life. Whichever way, it is pertinent to note that our character and conducts are either an example or a lesson or a warning to people in our circle, both in the present and the future.
Amara Ann Unachukwu.
