Bird Strike Forms

What story are you telling?

I was standing in line on the jetway as I was heading back home after a trip to California and I saw the sign:

“Bird Strike Forms”

It was a white piece of paper, on a generically white wall, and it was literally the ONLY image I had seen the entire jetway before I stepped onto the flight that was to take me back home to my family.

Um. Bird strike form?

I stood there and thought, “should I be concerned? What happens if a bird strikes a plane? How often does this happen if they have the paper right outside the door.” Now I am not naturally a worrier, but my brain could only go to the place of concern. Not exactly the feeling I wanted as I boarded the aircraft.

Now let’s jump back to three days prior, when I was flying Southwest Airlines to get to California.

As I walked down the jetway, the walls are marked in the Southwest red, blue, and orange. There were large posters with smiling faces of their employees and large hearts with a reminder of how much they loved their customers.

Two jetways, two very different stories.

As I sat down in my seat on the United Airlines flight, it reminded me that every single day we are shaping the narrative. We are shaping the story of what people will remember about us. Southwest wants to be known for the way they take care of their people, for the smiles they create, and their customer first mindset.

It started with their friendly help at the check-in counter when I had a question, it greeted me with a smile as they scanned my QR code, it subtly reminded me what they cared about in the jetway, and it finished with a joke as they reminded me they would keep us all safe in flight.

Everyday we are shaping the story of what we will be known for.

I wonder today, what story is your culture promoting? What way will you be remembered?