Sally Wolf: Good intent is important but it’s not everything

Sally Wolf, CEO and Founder, LightWorks, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Good intent is important but it’s not everything.

I had this reflection yesterday upon arriving, seeing elaborate pink balloon bouquets, and wondering:

Did anyone ask any patients how we felt about this?!

While I expect to navigate a lot of pink elsewhere this month, I did a double take at my oncology appointment.

For starters, anyone in that space is acutely “aware.”

We also all have different opinions on pink, for reasons I share in my brief video. This is true beyond Cancerland.

Whenever we do something for others, we need to consider whether our intent aligns with their needs.

Some examples I’ve seen firsthand:
– Not all cancer survivors appreciate the word “strong”.
– Not all colleagues want a “surprise” bday celebration.
– Not all team members appreciate a “fun” sports outing.

We can all do better and impact in the way we desire by always considering the intended recipient(s).

What do you think? Have you been in a similar situation where others’ (or your) intentions missed their mark?”