The Awesome Power of Thanks

Many, many good deeds and intentions go by unnoticed. Few of us feel truly appreciated. During those moments we do feel valued, it feels great - like a mental high.

So, let's make people feel high at work. You know what I mean.

And we know that practiced atta boys and atta girls don't work - nor should they. We want real connection, not some standardized technique learned in a one day training class.

When someone is amazing (we are all amazing at sometime), let's let him or her know. You are amazing. Sure, use words like that:

• Amazing
• Extraordinary
• You have a keen ability to
• You are a natural born leader when it comes to
• I was floored (in a good sense)
• I admire
• Blows my mind
• Excellent
• Outstanding
• You rock

I love it when people tell me I rock. :-)

Yeah, it's gotta be true and sincere. But everyone does something extraordinary. They really do.

I volunteer at the local Dress for Success. I sometimes teach or facilitate their monthly professional women's group meetings. Fascinating women, all, with interesting and complex stories and journeys. I love seeing their eyes and faces light up when I tell them how amazing they are. To take the time to get engaged in this group (it's totally voluntary) when there are so many competing demands - wow, hat's off. And to be interested in making career dreams come true - you go girl!

It's music to my ears. Applause, applause - three cheers and my admiration.

We know that we feel great when someone appreciates us - how do you think it feels when we do something very special to acknowledge someone else? It's another high, but even sweeter, because we are not the stars.

Take on the context of - people are amazing - for a week and see what happens.

By the way, Boss's Day is coming up - October 16th. Click here to learn how you can recognize your great boss and score him or her some nice loot. I need entries by Friday, but the earlier the better, so send in your entry today.

Comments

[Wally Bock]

My mother wrote three thank-you notes a day for all of her adult life. She taught me to do the same. I once asked her what happened when you ran out of people to thank. She fixed me with that look that said,"How could we have raised up one like this?"

Then she said, "Wally, there's always someone to thank." It's true.

Now, in this age when courtliness and civility draw chuckles, I find that thank-you notes are a competitive advantage.

People love to get them. They save them. They post them in their cublicles. And they remember them and you.

[Lisa Haneberg]

I must admit, I do not write as many thank you notes as I ought to. I certainly have more people I can thank. Three a day, wow, that's an achievement.