We are either doing activity that builds our relationships or doing activity that erodes them. -Kristie Van Luween

This week, an internal bank "community" meeting was dropped into my lap to manage.(well, that certainly is the way it felt.) A colleague asked me to "help him" manage a meeting. When the proverbial curtain went up, he was nowhere to be found. Needless to say, I was not happy. I grumbeled all the way to the office. The entire meeting was now my responsibility. Many different responses ran through my mind. Do I simply not show up and blame him? Do I embarASS him and call him out?

I chose the higher road. I decided I would show up with my OWN notes and run the agenda my way. Excuses will always be there, but opportunity won't. Carpe Diem.

I listened to my "community" of colleagues around the table talk about what they wanted this meeting to include. Connection, relationship, laughter, opportunity. Sounds a lot like GOTHAM. I couldn't help myself. I shared Fred's story and shared his motto. I concluded by advising my community of colleagues that if they wanted relationships, they would have to turn thier "I" into a "we" and bring something to give.

I think there may be a GOTHAM M&T Wilmington Trust chapter on the horizon.

How would you have handled this situation?