legacy

In my book, I wrote about how we’re all building our legacy even though we may not be doing so intentionally.  When our lives are over, the only thing that really will have mattered is the extent to which we changed others’ lives.  I am a firm believer that we have the power to change others’ lives in all we do, including through our work.

In my book, I share the story of Brian Floriani who, while attending the funerals of his grandmother and his father, wondered if the nice things people would say at his funeral would be true.  At that point, he honestly wasn’t sure.  As a result, he’s deliberately gone about living a life of significance since then and is building a powerful legacy without a doubt.  Read more about Brian and Bernie’s Book Bank and you will be inspired.

Today I want to share the legacy of a former colleague at Sara Lee.  Doug Volz was an SVP in HR at Sara Lee when I was in the early stages of my HR career.  Doug recently passed away and I’m heartbroken that I never had a chance to thank him for the many ways that he influenced and inspired me.  Here are a few things that Doug did that made a difference in my work:

He Made Us Feel Like We Mattered

Doug made it a point to know everyone and he sure made it seem that he enjoyed doing so.  He’d stop at your desk, ask you what’s new in your area, how you’re doing, etc. and then he’d actually listen.  I was at an entry level and wasn’t used to conversing with an executive.  Doug always made me feel like he enjoyed the conversation and appreciated my opinions.

For the first several months I was in HR, I wondered who kept leaving Tootsie Roll Pops on our desks.  I eventually learned it was Doug.  He always arrived at the office earlier than anyone else, so he walked around and left the treats without anyone seeing him do so. I know this is a small act of kindness, but he was a busy man who didn’t even work on the same floor as most of the team.  He took the time to walk around the entire floor and leave the treats and it always made me smile.   I learned from Doug that small acts of kindness go a long way.

He Handled Tough Conversations with Respect

This is probably one of the most important lessons Doug taught me.  Doug often was the person who would travel to various locations around the world to let people go.  As the corporation was undergoing massive change, there was a significant amount of these difficult conversations, to say the least.

One day I asked him how he could do this tough work without it weighing him down.  I’ll never forget his response.  He said, “If people have to be let go, I want them to be let go by someone who knows and cares about them”.   I learned that day that if HR people get to the point where they can let someone go with a canned speech without any empathy, their time in HR should end.  Doug made a difference to people in very difficult situations.  I know that it mattered that he was the one delivering the tough messages.

He Loved People

Doug was in the people business because he genuinely cared about them, and it showed.  It showed in how he greeted people, it showed in how he treated people and it showed in the decisions he made at work.

I was touched by the following lines in Doug’s obituary:

At his core, he wanted nothing more than to share a good meal and a fine glass of wine with his friends and family.  For Doug, it wasn’t just about the food, but it was about the people, the experience, and the lasting memories they created.  It is those wonderful memories that will continue to live on in those that have been blessed to have known his kind spirit.

That my friends is a beautiful legacy.  He changed my life, and it was an honor knowing him.  May he rest in peace always.  Job well done Doug!