Rain can strip people down to their true selves. Standing in a downpour for six hours performing a thankless task can help reveal who really cares about his fellow man. Some people take a look at you as if you’re invisible and others, like the man in this next story, take a good honest look at you.
This is a story about a wet Sunday morning at Silverstone racetrack, by David Palmer, who was standing, since 3:30 a.m., in the rain waiting for the drivers to arrive, even his waterproof coat failed to keep out the rain. But the rain failed to soak him completely, since David Coulthard, a Formula One driver, appeared on a moped nearby and looked at him and said, “Good grief, you look wet through.†He took off his hat, which harmonized with his helmet, and gave it to him and walked away. No cameras. No hordes of reporters. Just a little something from one human being to another, that only had a little bit to do with kindness, but had a lot to do with dignity.Minutes later, another driver clipped him with a moped footrest, nearly knocked him off his feet, and disappeared into the same building without a glance back.
Same morning. Same man standing in the same spot in the rain. Two completely different responses to a stranger who couldn’t do anything for either of them.
This is the sort of test that none of us are likely to think of, because we’re always looking in the wrong places for signs of a good character. We look at résumés, public speeches, leadership skills, or behavior in stressful situations. But the better answer almost always comes down to how people behave with those who have no power to advance their careers or help them get what they need. How do they treat the security guard, the waitress, the driver? And will they remember their names or not?
It shows up in little ways: a driver who asked about a guard’s name and manager’s name because he was instructed to wait ten seconds for pedestrians to clear a road. A member of the public who ignores all instructions and acts wounded when there are repercussions. All of these individuals weren’t being monitored by anyone they thought worthy of monitoring them. That’s why their actions were noteworthy.
There is a version of professionalism that gets dialed up in front of certain audiences, and there is a version that is simply an expression of who you are. The second is far less common, but it is something I am always on the lookout for in coworkers, bosses, and potential hires. Pay attention to people’s actions when there is no reward in it for them. Watch what they do for the person they have to let in, rather than the person they want to make a good impression on.
What makes this memorable is not fame or motorsport, but a workplace observation – the people you want to build something with are those that are decent regardless of how much it costs them. Anyone can be kind when it doesn’t cost them anything, or when it’s obvious. There are far fewer that do it when the sun isn’t shining, they’re tired, and no one cares or is judging.
Coming Soon on Amazon — Step into David Palmer’s unforgettable memories of Silverstone, motorsport, and the people who made his journey extraordinary.
