I’m not going to get into the “where’s all the common courtesy gone?” debate – although it’s an interesting one!
Instead, I want to step beyond the day-to-day ‘thank you’ (please spread generously!), and to the next level – the expression of appreciation.
Expressing your appreciation of another’s work, effort, input, smile – or whatever – sprinkles fairy dust onto any situation.
Appreciation is shown to improve wellbeing, motivation, performance, relationships – you name it!
It has such great results in so many ways, anyone can do it, and it’s free!
So why is appreciation so rare?
Perhaps it’s because:
- we’re afraid that we’ll be seen as vulnerable, a pushover, a softie
- our focus is more on judgement and criticism, on identifying mistakes, on anything less than A* meaning ‘not good enough’
- it seems best to ‘treat ’em mean to keep ’em keen’ – if we let someone know we appreciate them it could mean they’ll lose their motivation, they’ll rest on their laurels, they won’t try so hard
- we want to be top dog, and telling someone else how great they are might diminish our status
- we told them already
- they must know, so why say anything
- they might get big headed
- it seems childish
Is this why don’t we express appreciation more often?
When you express appreciation it gives the other person confidence, it makes them feel valued, it encourages them to grow, to go on.
It’s the same whether you’re appreciating family, friends, work colleagues, or strangers.
Think about it.
How do you feel when you receive appreciation? And how do you feel when you give it?
Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well. (Voltaire)
How often do you express your appreciation?
Could you do it more?
What’s stopping you?
Try it today.
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