ITS THE LITTLE THINGS

As my daughter, Sarah and I wandered in from the parking garage at St. Thomas Midtown Hospital, we weren’t quite sure where we were. I walked up to a man with a hospital badge, very well dressed and had the biggest smile on his face. I inquired, “I was wondering if you could help us. We are looking for the admissions desk for surgical patients. He didn’t blink his eyes. immediately he said, “I’d be glad to show you where that desk is“.

Off we went down a very long hallway and it didn’t seem like our destination was anywhere close. I told him that if he would point us in the right direction, we could take it from there. But he was adamant in making sure we arrived at the right place. He was quite friendly and I ask him his name. He said “My name is Geoff Smallwood,” … I told him my name and introduced him to Sarah.

It took us a couple minutes to get to the admissions desk and we chatted along the way. When we got there, we thanked him, shook hands and he said, “if there’s any other way I could help you I would be most happy to.“ we nodded, and he walked away. As we were sitting in the waiting room, I wondered who he was. So I googled him and discovered that he was Dr. Geoffrey Smallwood, the Chief Medical Officer At St. Thomas.

This man did not know us from Adam, but if anyone understands anything about leadership, it is this. The greatest leaders are a servants first. So it is no puzzle why this man was in a position of leadership. He displayed and defined this term to Sarah and me .

I read his bio…This is an amazing man, and my encounter with him, a powerfully humbling reminder. Thank you Dr. Geoffrey Smallwood, for reinforcing the phrase, “It’s the little things.

A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. (John C. Maxwell)