Over the decades, I have had many series of physical therapy treatments. More than a hundred treatments at various centers in different cities with many different individual practitioners. Many of these sessions were somewhere between physically uncomfortable and very painful.
Yet, I felt emotionally uplifted from interacting with the physical therapist. I felt cared for, understood, seen, etc., in a way that I don’t generally from the healing arts. Why? Is there something special about their training? Does the field preselect for it?
And while my feeling uplifted is far from pervasive in my interaction with the medical system, there are individuals and small practices where I consistently get it. Even a few large organizations, most notably ForwardHealth LLC, where I have had these types of positive experiences. How do they do?
Outside health, I very occasionally find it at small businesses in my circle, including my bookkeepers, some restaurants, and a few large national businesses, including AAA-The Auto Club Group and Trader Joe’s.
When I asked some folks at Trader Joe’s about it, they said that in their hiring process, they looked for (and I quote), “Happy people,” and that that was all there was to it.
I assuredly don’t know how to practice it my own life.
Does anyone know how to teach it?
If so, could this become the most important “organizational change” movement ever?
Whether or not it can be taught, it assuredly can be recognized.
Perhaps a registry of uplifting businesses?
Or the uplifting business initiative?
