The Art of Showing Appreciation
Have you ever felt taken for granted? As if no one is noticing what you are doing? Would a simple acknowledgement of appreciation make all of the difference? I teach a monthly ethics continuing education class to social workers in the state of Kentucky. It is a required class for relicensure. A captive audience that would prefer to be anywhere else on a Friday morning. My goal is to always provide an educational yet entertaining view of ethics. I want my participants to feel they have learned something. Typically I feel I have been successful. This past week’s training was a challenge. We had more participants than expected. Our room wasn’t set up and it was in a different setting than I typically teach. Each of these events alone could unnerve a trainer; nevermind all of them occurring at once. I should also mention there were some participants in the room that are well known and respected in the community. It can be overwhelming teaching a subject that you know some of your participants may be well versed in (and they are at least 10-15 years your senior). A few individuals did come up to me and state they enjoyed the training and it was much better than they anticipated. Nonetheless, I was grateful the three hours were over. I am paid to teach this course. I am informed I always receive good evaluations. No one has taken the time to email me until this past Monday. The email came from one of the well respected participants. At first, I was hesitant to open it as I thought the content may be correcting something I stated. However, in the course of a few short paragraphs, I was informed that the sender had attended many of these trainings over the years and mine was one of the best attended. It was also noted that the sender knew due to the issues it had to have been difficult but I handled it well. The sender didn’t have to send the email but they did. It made my day! It takes little time to show someone appreciation. This encounter caused me to consider how we each often do not show appreciation to others whether it be those we live with, the cashier or the trainer. Too often we take for granted many things and individuals in our lives. We don’t think to consider that a note/email/text/phone call could change someone’s day. Studies show that most people leave their jobs not because they do not like their work but because they do not feel appreciated. I’ve worked with clients who have left marriages because they felt their spouse did not appreciate them. Friendships have ended because one felt taken advantage of and not appreciated. Think about how it feels when a boss or coworker thanks you for what you have done. A paycheck is nice but appreciation is the icing on the cake. It feels good to hear a thank you for handling the difficult client or project, unloading the dishwasher, finishing the laundry or running an errand. [tweetthis twitter_handles=”@how2makealife”]Everyone benefits from showing appreciation.[/tweetthis] As a recipient, it is noted that someone was noticing what you were doing. As someone providing the appreciation, there is the benefit and reward of realizing you are boosting someone’s confidence and skills and sometimes simply making their day. As we begin to display more appreciation to others, we may discover appreciation is returned to us. When is the last time you showed appreciation to someone in your life?
Today I encourage you to take time to acknowledge the good work someone is doing or has done.
Tell them face to face or send a short note or email.
I’ve moved that email into a folder I will return to on days that I need a reminder.
Who do you need to appreciate?
SO very true and a beautiful reminder. A little thanks goes a LONG way. I really try to compliment or thank someone every day. Sounds crazy, but they are always genuine- whether it’s the shoes you’re wearing or the way you’ve helped me…I try and reach out to one person a day. Love this Sheryl!
I LOVE that you compliment people. It means so much and it also means you have noticed that person. When I check out someplace, I always say thank you and use there name. Once my husband did this and the cashier looked shocked and asked “How did you know my name?” She was so used to everyone barely acknowledging her that she forgot she had a name badge.
I think our world is so busy, we often forget to say ‘thanks’, thank you for the reminder!
You are so right Jessica. We are always on to the next task before we complete something and we don’t stop to acknowledge people.
What a great reminder! Challenge accepted 🙂
Yea!! Can’t wait to hear about it.
I think I need to appreciate my mom more. As much as we argue and bicker, she’s mom– and always will be. I took some time to do more for her this mother’s day, and that felt good.
Mom’s can drive one crazy but it’s also good to realize we wouldn’t be where we are (for good or bad) without our Mom’s. I’m glad it was a good Mother’s Day for you.
This is so good Sheryl. I think it’s something that would make SUCH a difference if everyone did a little more to show appreciation. I love sending thank you cards and snail mail, but know I could do plenty more to love others too
I’m like you and have gotten into the habit of sending snail mail cards. After receiving my email, I’m realizing how much these small tasks make a difference.
I love how you said It takes little time to show someone appreciation. Thank you for this post. It needs to be spread all over.
Thank you Sandy. Truly showing appreciation takes such a small amount of time.
I agree completely….taking a moment to show appreciation can have such wonderful effects. I wish more people did!
Wouldn’t it be nice if we all took the time to tell others we appreciate them. The world might have less anxiety and depression.
My love language is “words of affirmation” and it means A LOT to me when I’m shown that i’m appreciated. I try to express it, too, though I don’t always do the best job. It’s easy to take others for granted. No doubt you deserved that wonderful email! I imagine your course is wonderful!
Thanks Lindsay! Showing appreciating is important for everyone regardless of their love language. Without appreciation, we stop caring as much. As for my presentation – ethics can be boring but I “force” discussions and have exercises so it’s not just me talking!
Interesting quote because I just included you on a list of blogs I love to read.
I appreciate you! 🙂
See my post here: https://runwright.net/2016/05/10/10-non-healthy-blogs/
I hope you know how much I appreciate you! Having others care enough to share my work means so much!! Thank YOU!!
I love that this person took the time to send you a nice email! It’s so wonderful to feel appreciated.
It really is. It’s important for each of us to show it to others.
Affirmation and appreciation can mean so much. I was just talking to someone about how thank you has seem to have been forgotten by so many people. How wonderful that someone proved that wrong by emailing you!
Sadly, I think we get so busy that it isn’t that we aren’t appreciative. We simply rush on to the next thing. Even in the email I received, the sender apologized for having to rush off and not tell me in person. I’m certainly taking this with me for others in my life.
Hey Sheryl, I just stumbled across your blog from Amanda’s linkup party. This is an awesome space! I love what you’re doing here 🙂 Thanks for using your passions to remind us of important things – like saying thank you! (That was a little ironic….) I forget to say “thank you,” although I’m constantly craving those words in my life. This simple reminder on your blog was a huge help to me.
Kelsey, I am so glad you stopped by and found me. Thank you for your kind words. I’m so glad that this space allowed you to leave with something. I hope to see you back!
I can honestly say that I do this on a regular basis. It may be because I used to work in HR, Training & Development and the like and tried to teach this to my audience as well.
Great post, thank you! 🙂
Thanks Tamara. Wouldn’t it be nice if we didn’t have to think about teaching everyone about this simple act? So glad you stopped by.