Doesn’t it warm you up to have somebody say ‘thank you’ for something they’ve noticed about you? Never gets old, right? Actually, gratitude being expressed rarely has a chance to get old; we don’t exercise it nearly enough.
Receiving this in this morning’s inbox got me to thinking it needs to be passed along and paid ahead. . .
Expressing appreciation is one of the most neglected acts in relationships. When you observe people doing good things, let them know you recognize it.
Here are some simple phrases that will help you praise people and encourage them to repeat their positive behavior:
I appreciate the way you…
I’m impressed with…
You’re terrific, because…
Thanks for going all out when you…
One of the things I enjoy most about you is…
I admire your…
Great job with…
I really enjoy working with you because…
Our team couldn’t be successful without your…
Thank you for your…
You made my day when…
You can be proud of your…
You did an outstanding job of…
It’s evident you have the ability to…
I like your…
You deserve a pat on the back for…
You should be proud of yourself for…
I admire the way you take the time to…
You’re really good at…
You’ve got my support with…
What a great idea! It’s evident you have a special knack of…
You were a great help when…
You have a special gift for…
I enjoy being with you because you…
You’re doing a top-notch job of…
It’s fun watching you…
I know you can do it! I believe in you…
Your commitment to _____ is appreciated!
The power of positive praise is limited only by its lack of use. How many people do you know who could benefit from a sincere “congratulations” or “great job” or possibly even “you’re the best?”
Silent appreciation doesn’t mean much. You mind if I say that again?
“Oh, hey, she knows I couldn’t get along without her. This company would go nuts if she wasn’t here. I bring her candy whenever I think of it.” Candy? What about a substantial raise and a long-overdue promotion? Golden Rule thinking really needs to apply here, don’t you think?
“Oh, he knows how special he is. He knows how much I appreciate him.” “Oh, yeah, she’s the cat’s jammies, man! This place would go belly-up if she was out for more than a couple days!” “Hmmph? Oh, sure, we recognize achievement here. You bet. ‘Scuse me– Hey, Angela? You got my copy of those reports handy?”
It’s easy to take others’ kindness and attention for granted. Some of them have the type of personality that gives long after the joy of giving and caring has dried out. Eventually they stop being quite so giving and caring. They keep doing many of the same things, but the inner desire shuts down through long days and years of being taken for granted.
In some cases, they quietly disappear; and your company or social circle suddenly becomes aware that all those myriad little details everyone thought everyone else was doing aren’t getting done. Problem: once they’re gone – either in spirit or in fact – it’s a little late to start appreciating and caring. Nothing can be done to undo that damage. You can, however, assure that it doesn’t happen again if you have anything to say or do about it.
Silent appreciation does not mean much at all.
Let others know your positive regards toward them, towards who they are and what they do. They’ll live up to your compliment. Wouldn’t be surprising at all if they start to get even better!
And, better yet, you’ll start a chain reaction that eventually becomes a policy: catch people doing super stuff and let ’em know you noticed! – adapted from Simple Truths.
Loving you,
Dan