We know the feeling we get when someone appreciates us and we are touched by their acknowledgment. We often experience a swell of good feelings and happiness. Researchers have found that the benefits of appreciation extend beyond the moment the appreciation is given. A number of studies conclude that appreciation and gratitude enhances a feeling […]
Continue Reading "Appreciation and Well-Being"…Thanksgiving begins a holiday season that often sparks thoughts of gratitude and reflection on those who make a difference in our lives. In the spirit of the season, I thought I’d focus on the positive actions of some companies who appreciate their employees. Robert Chapman, the CEO of Barry-Wehmiller, has developed a business model that […]
Continue Reading "Appreciation Makes a Difference in the Workplace"…Most of us agree that words of appreciation feel good to us when we receive them. They provide us with validation. We all want to know that we are valued and belong. So why aren’t the words ‘you make a difference to me’ spoken more often? One reason is that we feel uncomfortable delivering the […]
Continue Reading "Delivering Messages of Appreciation"…Appreciations matter. They influence the strength of our relationships and the results we achieve in our workplace. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the number one reason people leave their jobs is because they “do not feel appreciated.” In a number of polls, 65% of Americans report receiving no recognition during the past year […]
Continue Reading "Meaningful Appreciations"…There are tremendous benefits to giving appreciations. Our relationships would almost certainly be stronger if we shared what we appreciate about each other more frequently. So why don’t we? The key to offering sincere appreciations is to feel gratitude. We become grateful by paying attention to and focusing on what’s good in our lives. Many […]
Continue Reading "Developing an Attitude of Gratitude"…Take a moment to think of a time when you received an appreciation that really mattered to you. I suspect you were touched – maybe even deeply touched, and grateful that the other person really “got” you. There is a wonderful feeling one gets from receiving a genuine appreciation. In addition to immediate positive feelings, […]
Continue Reading "The Many Benefits of Appreciations"…I just finished reading The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace by Gary Chapman and Paul White. I found it fascinating. Have you ever been in a relationship where you said, “I can never please her!” or “There’s no satisfying him!” It’s possible that you are doing all the things that would show gratitude, […]
Continue Reading "Make Your Appreciations Count"…Are there businesses or stores where when you walk in you feel instantly welcomed? That’s how I feel when I walk into my local YMCA when Jason is there. Technically, Jason‘s job is to swipe members’ cards and take payment, but he does much more than that. How he interacts with me influences my experience […]
Continue Reading "Every Interaction Makes a Difference"…“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” William Ward Several years ago, I saw a video from Simple Truths that touched me. It illustrates well the impact that words of appreciation can have on another person. This is the true story from the video: Barbara Glanz, motivational […]
Continue Reading "Silence is Difficult to Interpret"…What would happen to the way we view ourselves if we heard more from other people about the positive impact we have on them? It’s not uncommon for people to think, “I’m not good enough”, “I don’t matter”, “I’m not loveable”. Those thoughts all come from our perceptions of how others view us and in […]
Continue Reading "Acknowledgments matter"…