One thing that sparks me up instantly is an inadvertently dropped “truth”. Words unconsciously uttered that suddenly shift how I see myself and my world. Exciting stuff for me!

So remember I told you about the landlord who helped shape me as a property manager?  The man who was, and is again now, my partner in “The Dance of  Property Management”?  Well he has been back in the country and we were talking over coffee. The fact that he was back a mere three months after leaving indicates to the savvy that something out of the ordinary had transpired.  Well done those of you who joined those dots … 

Okay, okay!  I’ll share his wise utterings. (I still smile when I remember the look on his face as I suddenly got lost in the concept of what he said and had to grab my pen to write it down … priceless.  Here it is:

Integrity is a spectrum. We choose where we place ourselves in that spectrum.

I think I have made it abundantly clear how important integrity is to me both personally and professionally, so you can imagine how this casually uttered pearl of wisdom sparked around my brain, It was like a tumble lock slowly shifting, changing and clanking in to the correct position to open.

Now I know I may sound overly dramatic about the whole issue of integrity, but here is why.

A ball had been dropped by Allens around one of his properties. And as manager of the department he was looking to me to see what Allens thought about this.  There were no demands, no righteous indignation, no thumping of a fist on the desk.  Merely a polite and gentle, “Well, this is how I see it, what about you?” and a pause, then a further “See what you can do”

So I take the trip down the rabbit warren that is our office to Vanessa’s desk (Director of the company in charge of the rental department) and I go into bat for the owner. And this is where another dance takes place.  Have you ever been so blessed to have a boss that invites you to tell them why they might be wrong?  One who says, well this is what I think and this is my decision based on that, but keep talking … I want you to make me change my mind.  A boss who is completely open to whatever you throw at them and is actually not just open but genuinely enjoys the process of working through stuff?? You may be getting a glimpse here of why I am a loyal Allens gal through and through.

Anywho – Ness and I to-ed and fro-ed, yes but, no but, but what about and have you thought about … for two days.  And at the end of the two days we reached a result that Allens could live with and that the landlord can live with.  But more importantly to me I think, is we reached a result I can live with.

The reason is because the decision aligned with where I place myself on my integrity spectrum, and where I believe Allens stands in that spectrum. I have a very wise boss because every time she gives me an opportunity to professionally stand where I choose to stand personally, she creates a deeper respect within me for her, the company, myself and the process.

It is deeply satisfying to know and experience that I will never be asked to represent myself or this company in any other light than one that reflects my personal placement on my integrity spectrum.

And I’ll share a final secret. It truly works. It flows. It is like a hot knife through butter.

*Sigh* … and a very contented one at that!