Photo Credit - iStockPhoto

In lesson #1 we learned about acceptance and unconditional positive regard.  Today I would like to look at lesson #2 in building strong relationships and that centers around the concept of appreciation.  William James once observed that, “The deepest craving of human nature is the need to be appreciated”.  Some people will put more emphasis on it than others, but everyone recognizes and welcomes the appreciation of others.

Sailing Past a Thank You

I am pretty sure if I were to ask you to tell me what it means to appreciate someone, you would tell me that we need to say thank you more to the people that mean the most to us in life. And I would agree. Saying thank you and showing your appreciation to the closest relationships in your world is incredibly important. However, I notice in my own life that it is easy to overlook this simple step with the people I am closest with. And by that I mean in my home. In the workplace, where I am trying to impress you, I find it easy to spread around the thanks and the ata-boys, but at home where I am not so concerned with impressing, I can tend to take things for granted.

When I think of forging strong Continue Reading…

Photo Credit - iStockPhoto

My, my, my how time flies! Can you believe what today is? Today is the last day of the first half of this year. That’s right, it’s halftime. It seems like only yesterday that I was encouraging my readers to establish a series of progress reports along the path to their annual goals. If you recall, I was encouraging you to take an assessment of your progress toward your goals on a regular, perhaps quarterly, basis. This is an area I easily overlooked in the early days of trying to accomplish things. I would articulate amazing ideas and goals only to arrive at the end of another year with very little to show for my aspirations. I have learned over the months and years that in order for me to stay focused and on task I need to have a regular checkpoint with myself to see how I am doing.

It Pays to Hold Yourself Accountable

Even when I began holding myself accountable it was very easy to Continue Reading…

Photo Credit - iStockPhoto

I was listening to a lesson from Dr. John C. Maxwell recently where he spoke of two characteristics that were necessary if you were going to provide an environment for individual growth to occur. Whether you work in the business world, the classroom, or the home this is a truth that applies to all communication.

The two characteristics that Dr. Maxwell spoke about were candor and caring. By candor we mean honesty and straight talk with your team, your students or your children. You tell people how they are really doing. You share both the good and the bad of what you see going on in their life.  By caring we mean showing care for them personally; who they are and what they mean to you. You reassure them of their value to the organization and to you personally.

I really appreciated the lesson because Continue Reading…