How many times a day do you say “thanks”? Is it a true expression of gratitude or an automatic response? “Thanks” is a good start but expressing gratitude—letting those around you truly understand that you appreciate what they are doing—is a key to effective leadership.
William James said “The deepest craving of human nature is the need to be appreciated.” Letting people know you appreciate them shows you care and are giving credit where it’s due. It evokes trust and loyalty, two important factors leading to business success. It also serves as a morale booster and motivator.
Expressing gratitude can be delivered in many ways—a quick email or text, a phone call, a personal note or card, and whenever possible, face-to-face. Whichever you choose, make sure it matches the act of kindness, assistance or work delivered.
Whether it’s big or small, these guidelines will insure your next “thank you” is an effective expression of gratitude:
- Keep it simple and sincere. The simple act of being thanked makes one feel more valued.
- Look the recipient of your message in the eye when you express gratitude in person and address them by name. If the conversation is by phone or written (text, email, personal note) be sure to mention names as well.
- Refer to the specific act of kindness, assistance or work the person or group provided. (Something they refrained from doing may warrant appreciation as well).
- Let the individual or team know how their action impacted you personally, professionally or how it impacted your business.
- Acknowledge the effort it took (i.e. “Thank you for taking time out of your weekend to . . .” or “I realize you went out of your way to. . . ” or “Thanks for staying late to finish the. . .”).
- Timing is everything. Express gratitude at the right time. Sometimes it’s best to express your gratitude on the spot. Other times, a personal note or visit after the fact may be more appropriate.
- Smile! Whether face-to-face, over the phone or written, a smile comes through and verifies your expression of gratitude is
genuine.
Start the year off “Communicating for Success.” Make every “thank you” a true expression of gratitude.
How many times have you asked someone to do something and been disappointed with the result?
significance can inspire success. To insure understanding, have the assignment repeated back to you. If the description is not accurate, explain again. Repeat this process as needed.
The first thing we are taught about effective communication is to listen. “Listen with feeling;” “Hear what is being said.” But what if we could also see what is being said? Centuries of communication research and observation reveal that impactful, influential communication consists of:
Just as important as observing the gestures and body language of others is keeping in mind what 
DON’T—close your arms in front of you or hide hands in pockets; perch on your chair; jingle coins or doodle, twist ear or stroke chin, tug nose; touch individuals who are obviously direct or analytical; stare at the floor or across the room.
In the age of social media, it becomes easier every day to find ways to procrastinate. In an effort to somehow justify perusing the variety of forwarded emails, articles, YouTube clips, questionnaires, surveys, games, links, invitations…..I contemplate what message, learning or opportunity could be buried in the content, and how I might apply it to my business. Often, I come up short, scolding myself for deviating from the “block schedule”, a fail safe tool which is supposed to insure an efficient and productive blend of marketing, sales, meetings, administration, planning, preparing, delivering and following up. Oh, and a personal life.
again. In one such case, what appeared to be cause for scolding, turned out to be a terrific reminder that a “time-out” is not always a punishment. Pause for reflection, a quick chuckle, change of scenery, is often inspiring, invogorating and just plain fun. Funny how teachers know these things. Maybe recess had a purpose!!
We struggle daily-attempting to maximize our productivity, do more with less, master a variety of roles, meet deadlines, obtain goals….meet everyone’s expectations. Sometimes a good old “time-out” works wonders. In their book, “The Power of Full Engagement”, Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz address the concept of “sprint and recover”, emphasizing that to fully engage, we must allow ourselves frequent, intermittant recovery time to recover from the “sprint” we engage in daily. A few minutes to break the cycle, chuckle at a ridiculously funny re-enactment of high school history and not do anything with it, is OK. In fact, here it is.
next.
conference with Tiger Woods, held in Augusta, GA.. One reporter asked Tiger why he hadn’t addressed his situation sooner, knowing he was cascading into a downward spiral? Tiger’s response was simply, he wasn’t able to face reality and take action until he had reached absolute rock bottom. Most likely, Tiger will recover and go on to win tournaments and generate millions in endorsements. What about your business??
1. Ask “How are we doing? Do this often. Always know where you are with regard to achieving your plan. Waiting until a deadline to evaluate can lead to disappointing results.
you a clear indication of how your business is progressing. Detailed reports are important, but can take time to review. Find those particular numbers and keep track of them regularly-making sure all of your team is tracking them as well. Examples: monthly revenue, annual profit margin, weekly operating costs, quarterly number of clients, weekly client conversion rate, daily cold calls, average transaction dollars-whether dollars $, percentages %, or numbers #- pick something and track it. 
A few weeks ago I received 2 emails. One was offering new business owners the opportunity to gain visibility in a new online and print business magazine. The other was inviting me to the launch party for a new magazine with the same name. I opened the first email, clicked the link and checked out the advertising, featured business owners and comtemplated whether or not it would reach my target market. Next, I reviewed the launch party invitation, thinking what fun it would be have a new group to network with. Looked interesting, so I forwarded to my friend, asking her if she might want to go to the party and to check out the magazine at blahblahblah.com.
