Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.
I recently read an article about Bob Nelson, author of the book 1001 Ways to Reward Employees. The underlying premise of his books, and the article, is that people are motivated more by recognition and positive feedback than by money. It is certainly not a new idea. Many before have preached the value of positive reinforcement. However, it is a message we all too easily forget, and its applications are universal. Mary Kay Ash, the cosmetics queen, wrote in her book that she imagines people wearing an invisible sign around their necks reading, “Make me feel important.” Dale Carnegie wrote volumes and created his entire personal development program around the importance of positive reinforcement. Kenneth Blanchard used praise as one of the cornerstones of the one-minute management model still used in business today, more than 20 years after he first wrote the book, The One-Minute Manager. Maybe today, with a child, co-worker, or the bank teller at the drive-up window, you were reminded of the power of praise, acknowledgement or appreciation. You offered a sincere compliment, and saw a face light up. You shared a brief word of encouragement, and saw someone who was disheartened lift their head, take a deep breath and move forward with a challenging task. Perhaps you even reminded yourself that in spite of your flaws and shortcomings, you are still an extraordinary human being, and at the reminder your mouth turned up in a smile. If you have not created any of these experiences today, there is still time. We live in a hurry, hurry, rush, rush world where rudeness and negativity too often leave their mark on our mood. However, this does not have to be the way you live. Make this the week you remember the power of praise, a kind word or a sincere compliment. We are all starved for this kind of attention, like the little boy who challenged his dad to a game of darts. “Let’s play darts. I’ll throw and you say ‘wonderful.’” It is free, it is powerful and today you can make someone’s day by saying, “WONDERFUL.” I promise you will not have to look far for your first candidate. You never know when a moment and a few sincere words can have an impact on a life!
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AuthorMusings from Gammon Irons. To desire and strive to be of some service to the world, to aim at doing something which shall really increase the happiness and welfare and virtue of mankind - this is a choice which is possible for us all; and surely a good haven to sail. Archives
February 2020
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