Here’s a great little tip from December’s Making Life Better newsletter. It’s a great way to start thanking at home.
Want to get your child hooked on writing thank-you notes? Write one to him or her and mail it. Then watch your child discover the old-fashioned charm of finding a letter in the mailbox.
Let me know what happens when you try this. Please and I’ll post it on the blog!
A good story from a GREAT dad, Andrew Blaney. He is a manager with Pets At Home UK/Scotland
Hi Chester,
I thought I’d give you a quick update on our growing Carrot Culture from the cloudy side of the pond! The “Carrot” has really made a difference across the board in our stores. In our area (Scotland) each store now has a dedicated “carrot patch” wall for all kinds of thank you notes, be they from customers, managers, fellow colleagues…they really are great to see!
I have taken to writing “thank you” notes early in the morning and posting them into individual lockers just to say thanks for that special little something that colleague has done…only a few actually decide to put them up on our carrot patch but its great, as every now and then I catch a glimpse of the inside door of their locker and see the note I left them. That’s the amazing thing about appreciation for me—people react in many different ways!
The best thing, though, and I want to thank you for this, was the idea to pop a little note into my children’s school bags. I did this recently and it had never occurred to me to show a little written appreciation of how proud I was of my two boys Matthew and Christopher and the effort they put in at school. I always SAY nice things (well, when they are good!) but I know that they will treasure those little notes and it will have a real positive impact…and that is thanks to you!
Andrew Blaney
Pets At Home UK/Scotland
That’s a good manager and a great dad!
P.S. Andrew is also a HUGE Celtic Soccer fan and shared with me this link to their greatest win. To thank him for his wonderful story I will share the link with you too. That’s recognition!
<object width="340" height="285"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uCZ5NzmGdkI&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01&border=1"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uCZ5NzmGdkI&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="340" height="285"></embed></object>Less than 60 seconds. That’s all it takes to make someone’s day, using on-the-spot recognition. The next time you notice an employee doing something right, immediately follow these four simple steps:
Note: In less time than it took you to read this post, you could have recognized someone. Now, how easy is that!
You’ve heard of the 12 Days of Christmas, right? Well, last week I presented in Tucson, AZ for the local SHRM chapter. I was lucky enough to meet Mysti Kocher from Smart Health and she shared with me an idea that is too good not to share with you: The 12 Days of GRATITUDE.
Here is what their CFO Dan Nahom shared on why he is doing “The 12 Days of Gratitude” for the second consecutive year at Smart Health.
I continue to be amazed at the impact of a written note. Last year I introduced the 12 Days of Gratitude. The concept is to write a note of gratitude to 12 different people who have made an impact in your life. One note each day for 12 consecutive days in December. Last December, numerous people took-up this challenge. Some managed to write all 12 days…others did whatever they could. All of them would tell you it transformed their awareness of gratitude. It will take you about 10-minutes a day, yet the return on investment just might change your life!
On Tuesday, December 1st, I will write my first note to begin the 12-day celebration of gratitude. I hope you will too! Grab a stack of notes cards and a pen and let your celebration of gratitude begin!I hope you are able to share with others!
Dan
I know we are already past the 1st of the month but there are still more than 12 days before the end of the year and this is a great challenge that I hope you will accept. It is the season of thanks and this is a great way to make it a part of at least 12 days this holiday season. Thanks to Mysti for a great way to help make this holiday season a season of giving and gratitude.
When you are hiring a new employee, ask the person to share her most memorable recognition moment when she was honored for above-and-beyond behavior. Ask what she did to earn the reward, what she was given, and how it made her feel.
Not only is this a great way to uncover an applicant’s strengths, it also can give you an idea of what types of rewards will be valued by this person in the future.