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PAUSE – 17.05 – It’s Never Too Late To Appreciate

Reflection:  Last Friday, March 3rd, was Employee Appreciation Day. Did you note it? Did you mark it? Or, did you miss it?

If you marked it, good for you! If you missed it, worry not! You now have a 51-week head start on planning a thoughtful gesture or two for next year’s Appreciation Day.

People love to be celebrated on ‘their’ special days. That’s true whether you are an employee, a volunteer, a boss, a mom, or a dad. However, cards, treats, lunches, and bouquets of flowers once a year only do so much. It’s what happens on the other 364 days of the year that determine whether people truly feel appreciated.

You’ll want to pay special attention to the employees in your organization. But don’t stop there. You can be an appreciative presence in the lives of employees in all those organizations that serve you as you move through your day and your week.

We all have ‘regulars’ in our world. People who serve us again and again as we visit ‘our’ convenience stores, banks, dry cleaners, gas stations and restaurants. Each and every employee matters and deserves to know that’s true.

 

Action: Here are three ways that you can express your appreciation moment to moment to all the employees in your world.

  1. See people. Greet employees by looking them in the eye and sharing a smile, a nod, or a word to acknowledge their presence. Notice and ask how they are today.
  2. Know people. Learn and use their names. Invest in discovering who people are beyond the roles they play. What do they value and care about at work and beyond?
  3. Support people. Do whatever you can to make things easier for people to do their jobs well. Actively let them know you value both who they are and what they do.

 

Quotes Of The Week: Appreciation can make a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary. – Margaret Cousins

When you meet people, show real appreciation, then genuine curiosity. – Martha Beck

Don’t forget, a person’s greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated. – H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Trade your expectation for appreciation and the world changes immediately. – Tony Robbins.

 

Resources Of The Week:

Check out Paul White’s article on Seven Tips Not To Screw Up Employee Appreciation Day.

For a deeper dive, here’s an archived one hour webinar on the topic, Ten Things You Can Do For Employees on Employee Appreciation Day, featuring the ideas of Dr, Bob Nelson, author of 1501 Ways To Reward Employees. You might want to gather a few colleagues and watch this together.

 

News:

Engagement Series:

Coming up soon is the last in the 3 part Engagement Series that I’m delivering through the U of S Edwards School of Business. Tapping Passion – Moving Beyond Mid-Life Malaise takes place next week (March 16). There are still a few seats available. We’d love to have you join us. This link takes you to the complete info and registration details.

 

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Appreciation, Pause E-zines

2 Responses to “PAUSE – 17.05 – It’s Never Too Late To Appreciate”

  1. Maureen Haddock

    Patricia, I totally enjoyed this blog. It triggered many thoughts. I am the customer who fills in the forms praising the saleslady. I am the writer who praises other writer’s books. We are all in this world together. It feels so good to be appreciated.
    I like the three points: see people, know people, support people. I wrote a blog called The Eyes at The Window and I stressed, there, the importance, for children, of being truly seen.
    The quotes at the end of your blog are wonderful! I particularly love the idea of “exchanging your expectation for appreciation.” Thanks!

  2. Pat Katz

    Maureen, thanks for your comments. I’m glad this message hit home for you. I see what kind of an encouraging presence you are in the lives of friends on Facebook, and I have no doubt that practice extends throughout your life. You are a beneficial presence in the lives of others. You are absolutely right about the value of being ‘seen’. In fact, there is a South African greeting that translates ‘I see you’. Such a gift to be seen and known. Cheers, Pat

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