How To Cultivate Appreciation In Your Workplace & Community

How To Cultivate Appreciation In Your Workplace & Community

 In General
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In 2018 I moved to Ontario, Canada and noticed something different in my communication with others.

 

In every situation, before I left or put down the phone, I said, “Thank you. I really appreciate your help” or “Thank you. I appreciate your kindness”.

People seemed surprised by this.

 

Their surprise intrigued me since saying this felt natural to me.

 

The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace.

 

I came across this book and listened to it on audiobook. It’s easy to listen to.

 

A few points interested me.

1.
Recognition is what the person does, i.e. performance-based.

2.
Appreciation is who the person is, i.e. focuses on the value of the individual regardless of skills.

 

I am someone focused on people as individuals instead of what they might do for me or what they might have as possessions.

 

This book is helpful to understand the dynamics of family and intergenerational businesses and non-profits, schools, volunteering, universities, healthcare environments, finance industry, & manufacturing industries.

Choosing appreciation motivated leadership to address Burnout and discouragement for yourself and those around you.

 

 

Interestingly enough, burnout statistics are higher in people who don’t feel appreciated (including clergy & social services). I found this interesting since people on private retreats or massage often book to prevent workplace and career burnout.

The book offers an interesting perspective on the importance of communication and choosing to relate to people within the environment & communities.

 

More than one school teacher in Ontario has asked me to do trauma-informed burnout prevention training as part of the employee assistance program for teachers. The amount of time I spent bouncing around the bureaucratic system trying to find the right person was a complete waste of my own time and effort.

 

Ultimately it has to be the responsibility of the individual.

 

Prioritizing your own well-being is in your own best interest.

 

The system cannot provide everything, and, as a business owner, I cannot bounce around bureaucracy trying to find that one decision-maker for professional development training when the immediate decision is with the individual.

 

Appreciation is something that flows naturally for me.

 

Foster a culture of appreciation, and the so-called byproduct of kindness is likely to increase when people feel encouraged rather than judged or criticised.

Managing expectations & valuing people is very much part of the Yogic tradition and the mindset on kindness 👍✅ .

 

Open and honest communication is important.

 

For me, there is no difference between styles of communication within my family, friends, workplace or community.

I have congruence and integrity with my communication.

 

Over the course of two years within my own community, I wrote messages on my front door every morning. My thoughts were as children walked to school, they would read it, and as people drove past, they would read it.

 

So much effort in media goes into dividing people, instilling fear and anger, we miss the point entirely. This was my effort to build a connection with people.

 

Some people appreciated this effort of mine. Others not.

 

Quality of Your Own Mind

 

As a mediator, even though my own intention with kind messages on my door was to create a positive, thoughtful community, a woman contacted me on Facebook to let me know a group of mothers were discussing me at the bus stop every morning, with nothing kind to say.

 

My suggestion was for these women to take a book to the bus stop for the quality of their own minds, or the other option was, of course, to knock on my door and introduce themselves to me if they felt comfortable doing so.

 

Gossip is unhelpful.

Educated Dialogue is Helpful.

 

Thankfully I know we cannot people please everyone.

 

Small things make a difference.

 

It’s the small things in the here, and now that impacts everyday life for people.

 

Every time I put garbage out, I leave a note of Thanks.

 

Mental well-being is a challenge in Canada.

I know that, and I understand feeling appreciated impacts people positively.

 

Being a garbage collector is not the most pleasant job in the world, but someone has to do it.

These men care for an entire community and primarily go unseen, unacknowledged and unappreciated.

I chat to them for a minute if I see them, and they’ve told me, of all the houses on their route, they love my house.
Probably because from day 1, I’ve made an effort.

 

 

Societal contribution doesn’t have to be massive projects. It simply starts at your own front door.
From the inside outwards.

 

It’s a symbiotic relationship. They collect my garbage.

I have the manners and respect to say thank you.

 

Marcus Aurelius was right.

What we do NOW echoes in Eternity.

 

 

There isn’t much difference between this workplace appreciation book and Love Languages book. Before you go, you might like to read this article on Love Languages and communication and non-verbal communication.

 

Copyright Colleen Glennis McClure

Author, Mediator, Trainer, Human Being.


 

LEADING PEOPLE TOWARDS HARMONY SINCE 1994

905 902 3106

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