What are some ways to be a fountain?

Chip Hutcheson

Jun 1, 2024

Pub Aux is a go-to source for information on print and digital advertising, news reporting, public notices, circulation, design and more — you name it, and you’ll discover ways to improve your newspaper.

But this month, it might be useful to take a more comprehensive look at how your newspaper functions and how every employee can play a necessary role in its success. I’m reminded of the coach who asked one of his Little League baseball players what position was the most important one on the team. The answer: the position you play!

The same is true in the business world. Every person on your team should understand that what they do is important and that by doing their job well, the business will be the beneficiary.

That mindset leads to one important question. It’s been said that everyone is either a fountain or a drain. That concept has been a teaching tool for numerous organizations, including professional sports. David Griffin, who was general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers, said great teams have almost all fountains and nearly no drains. Fountains are leaders who make those around them better, while drains suck the energy from those around them.

Let’s be blunt — there are times that we’ve all been a mixture of both. In the newspaper world today, people can be prone to fall into the trap of being a drain. The quest to be on solid financial footing while at the same time having the staffing to effectively cover the news in your community can foster discouragement, and that can filter along to others in your organization. A drain is becoming critical, impatient, insensitive — in essence making it all about you rather than considering others.

On the other hand, a person with the fountain characteristic is encouraging, considerate, thoughtful — their impact makes others in the organization better.

There are times we can fall into the “drain” description, but there is an escape.

So what are some ways to be a fountain in your newspaper?

• First and perhaps the easiest way is to start the day by being positive. That means when you walk in the door, greet your co-workers with a smile and have a simple “hope you have a good day” statement. That energy rubs off on people. Making them feel noticed sets the tone for dealing with whatever arises that day.

• Let others know you have their back. When someone is struggling, ask how you can help. There are times that personal situations carry over into the work realm. At those times, a co-worker might only need a listening ear — someone to say they understand. Help the person refocus on the task at hand. In today’s world where technology snafus can create immense frustration, a tech-savvy worker can be an immediate fountain to someone who struggles with solving the simplest tech issue.

• Learn the value of saying “thank you.” Validation is important. By noticing the good work someone does and acknowledging it, you are a fountain that will result in the person being motivated to do even better work. Not acknowledging the efforts of others is draining in your organization.

• Seek input from those you work with. Sometimes, those at the top of the organizational chart want things to be “their way or the highway.” That is the mentality of a drain. Humility — knowing that the organization’s leader is not always right and does not always have the right answer — is an effective tool for being a fountain. Humility isn’t a flaw; it’s a virtue, and it builds camaraderie.

• A fountain is trustworthy. If you commit to do something, then follow through. Deliver on what you say. That means don’t be sloppy, undisciplined or miss deadlines.

• Finally, a fountain is a person of integrity. That means what you are on the inside matches what you appear to be on the outside. You are consistent to the core.

Remember, you are not born being a fountain or a drain. It’s the choice you make each day. You might have been a drain yesterday, but that doesn’t have to define you today. Make the choice to be a fountain; your newspaper will be better because you do.

Chip Hutcheson is the retired publisher of The Times Leader in Princeton, Kentucky. He was NNA president in 2015. He currently serves as a content strategist for Kentucky Today, the online news website of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. chiphutcheson@yahoo.com