Loving Monday: From Occasional to Ordinary
Get up right now and walk over to a co-worker and thank them for being a part of the team.
Don’t pause. Don’t hesitate. Don’t over-think this one. Simply go let someone know that you appreciate them and then come back and finish reading this post.
How was it? Did they look at you with bewildered astonishment? Did they smile and return an awkward thank-you?
I‘d love to see a movement where expressions of appreciation at work went from being occasional to being ordinary.
There doesn’t need to be a reason to express appreciation. In fact, the element of surprise is one of the best parts.
What if work became the sort of place where one could expect to be appreciated and valued? Hearing things like, “Thank you” and “I’m glad you’re here” would be ordinary experiences instead of isolated rarities.
What would it be like?
Would would it be like to know that whatever your mood, whatever your mistake, whatever the complications of the day, there would be an atmosphere of appreciation that we’re in this together?
Leadership’s tendency to only begrudgingly say anything positive is an enormous fail. The “thinking” is that any compliment will result in a demand for money or promotion, to which they want to avoid having to refuse.
Such rationale smacks of cowardice to me, not wisdom. The rewards of a workplace culture characterized by appreciation far outweigh the risks of any awkward negotiations. Far outweigh.
Increased productivity, reduced turnover, greater willingness to collaborate and chip in, just to mention a few.
Who will seize the initiative and become a shaper of the workplace cultures with me? You already do in many regards I am sure, or you wouldn’t be reading this blog.
If you haven’t yet, walk up to someone now and thank them for what they bring to the team.
Forward this article to a friend, and let’s get some ordinary appreciation going!
On your side,
– Karl Edwards
