One of You Gets an Upgraded Seat

September 9, 2019
Executive Coaching

They called my wife and I up to the airport gate podium to announce that there was a seat in “1D” and that one of us could sit in First Class if we wanted to split up.

It felt so good to tell my wife that she should take this available seat. I would rather she enjoy it. After all, it was no big deal. I was in “Comfort Plus”, so I still had a little more leg room.

The flight was enjoyable— and even more enjoyable because I had done something for someone else. As a leader, I have always tried to do that. Your people love to see that you will do something for them that treats them like “royalty”.

That’s what “servant leadership” is all about when you are at work at your organization. What can you do that gives others a hand up to not only accomplish their work, but enjoy what they’re doing?

I should also mention that I never complained to my wife. It was not a problem that there is a difference between where she was in First Class and me in the coach section of the plane. I did not complain, but I did point out some of the differences between her seat in First Class and mine in Coach:

1. My seat wasn’t as wide as hers.

2. My video screen was smaller.

3. They served me Folgers instead of Starbucks.

4. There was less Memory Foam in my seat.

5. My snacks were beyond the shelf date.

6. There was more “rough air” back there.

7. The people on each side of me didn’t smile as much.

8. The flight attendants were still reading Level I training books.

9. There were no air vents, so we had hand fans to use if it got hot.

10. I had trouble breathing. I think there’s less oxygen back there.

Of course, none of the items on the list above are true, but just as I think there should be humor in the workplace, I attempted a little humor in the air space.

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Dan Chiodo

Passion. Charisma. Results. It’s those values and a desire to see others achieve them for themselves that led Dan to found iMPACT Training & Development, a firm which offers training to guide individuals into a higher level of performance through executive coaching, motivational speaking, staff training and organizational development.

CERTIFIED COACH

As a Certified Mastermind Executive Coach, Dan teaches courses in leadership development, communication, sales, customer service and time management, with a focus on hands-on learning strategies.

AUTHOR: PerfectTIMING

Dan’s experience and interest in time management led to writing his book PerfectTIMING which is available on his website, as well as Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and other books stores.

COMMUNICATION TRAINER

Dan also serves as the Senior Associate to Dr. Bill Wallisch, founder of MAIN Point, which is a communications firm that specializes in strategic communication skills for organizations worldwide. Clients include astronauts and cosmonauts of NASA, Coca-Cola, Starbucks, General Mills and the White House. MAINPoint also prepares well-known personalities for appearances on national television programs, such as Today, Nightline, Good Morning America and Meet the Press.

EXPERIENCE

Dan spent a great part of his career in the communications field, having served more than ten years as the President & Publisher of the Joplin (MO) Globe, which is one of the largest newspapers in Community Newspaper Holding’s (CNHI) groups of newspapers in the U.S.

Prior to that, Dan held several management positions with Ottaway Newspapers, the community newspaper division of Dow Jones, Inc. He has also worked at communications companies in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Minnesota and Missouri.

ACCREDITATION

Dan graduated from East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania. He also attended the American Press Institute, Reston, Va., the management studies program at Kellogg University, Chicago, Ill., and Leaderpoint Management Development Institute, Overland Park, Ks. He also taught at the Bloomsburg Journalism Institute, Bloomsburg, Penn., and at Ashland Community College, Ashland, Ky. Dan was an instructor for the Xerox Professional Selling Skills program and administrated it for several Ottaway newspapers.

INTERNATIONAL WORK

Dan’s assignments have taken him to countries such as Mexico, Panama, Australia, the UK and Dubai. He has also taught in the U.S. for companies such as General Mills, Nestle, Medtronic, Knutson Construction, the State of Missouri and Freeman Health System hospitals.

JOHN MAXWELL TRAINING

Dan is also on the John Maxwell Team of instructors and coaches, working with John to offer his courses throughout the country.


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