Building off my appreciation post for Maria, in her session with Nic – they provided a Gratitude Formula that I found useful for leaders. Too often, we want to appreciate and because of time, we are cheap with that gratitude. A quick thanks as we pass in the hall. A quick email stating appreciation that could be written in a few minutes.
I have found this approach is better received and achieves what I’m ultimately concerned with: making someone know that they made a difference.
Gratitude Formula
- Be Specific – I know it may seem obvious to you but what you appreciate is not always obvious to the other person. I know cases where people thought what they were being recognized for was not what was the part desired. This caused a lot of unaddressed conflict (you said you appreciated me – now you are critiquing this)
- Share Feeling – I know I know, personal at business is not easy. Get over it. When people understand how their actions impacted you emotional, it gives the appreciation more weight. When someone shares that they feel less stressed because of something I did – not only do I feel good about my action, I feel good about the result for them.
- Connect to Needs – This was the new addition. I could feel good about my specific action. I could feel good about the impact that it had. However, to know that it was also needed and why…now we are just at a different level. Clearly there is benefits to doing good but doing good when someone needs it, now that’s a rewarding appreciation.
What was the result when you leverage the Gratitude Formula?
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