Simply put the “Art of Appreciation” is not taken advantage of on countless opportunities each day.
Grateful recognition of those we work with and those we work for is also an ingredient of your character and is also reflected in your reputation. With no MDR (Minimum Daily Requirement) established, you are your own author of the privilege to express appreciation when appropriate.
Chambers of commerce, nonprofit organizations, associations, public and private sector all provide the social interaction of communication on a minute by minute basis. It also provides those moments when someone goes above and beyond and out of their way to be part of your success.
How often have we let that moment slip by to recognize and acknowledge someone who has contributed to our success? Tell Judge Judy I plead “guilty” myself.
In the rush of multi-tasking, managing your organization, supporting your staff, informing your board members, answering countless questions from the public, and at the same time amplifying your attention to your members, one does have a few key moments slip by.
The opportunities to share sincere appreciation will be brought to us, like questions that need answers, on a daily basis. In our haste to feed that Type A personality of serving others, those golden moments are not the priority that they could be.
Each walk-in, phone call, email, text, personal conversation could be the highlight of that person’s social interaction for the day. To us we may just have that “next please” thought in our minds.
How many life-long impressions have you made on others because of what you may have considered a seemingly small or insignificant conversation, but to the other person it could be a critical contribution to their success, safety, or health.
Giving thanks and expressing thanks take two different actions. Giving thanks is that quiet voice inside of us that acknowledges the action. Expressing thanks takes the initiative to alter or interrupt the flow of the communication and verbalize and sincerely transfer your words and feelings to others within a few seconds when that person is in front of you or on the phone. That is when the appreciation is best sent and best received.
We can all review just within the last 24 hours a few, or several, moments when we could have shared our appreciation to others. The next day business continues, calls are returned, meetings attended, and those moments yesterday when you could have shared your appreciation to someone are now evaporated.
What impact did it have on you when someone shared their appreciation for you? Did you reflect on it, did it surprise you, did it alter your impression or opinion of that person?
In many of my keynotes over the years, I have invited folks to consider thanking three more people today than they did yesterday. This is not hard to do and could produce endless benefits to both of you.
With the leadership position you have in your career, and in your life, appreciation is already part of your DNA as a leader. Take it to the next level and invite this conversation at your next staff meeting. It could be a topic that will surprise some. To refresh the “privilege of sharing appreciation” might just create a great topic with your team.
It is no coincidence that my business cards are printed…”We appreciate you thinking of Aaker & Associates”.
Not a new topic, but I hope this plants the seed to express appreciation in areas you had not considered yesterday.
The harvest of your expressions of sincere appreciation will extend far beyond your intention.
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