Start 2008 Right by Being Thankful!

One of the best long-term investments in self-management and managing people is a well-placed "thank you." It seems, as if, it is almost impossible to bank too much on this kind of currency. We need to know that we are recognized by others as having made a contribution to our department or organization. We need to be affirmed as an individual in the role we are playing. We want our efforts to be recognized in public. This one of our important basic human needs according to Maslow.

If you tend to be a problem solver -as I do -you may be emphasizing needed improvements rather than past accomplishments more often. This kind of emphasis sometimes fills up so much of our view of the world that we forget to be grateful, both to others and to our Maker, for all the good things we see and we have.

A daily routine of identifying or recognizing a task well done with a note, a short email, a SMS, a phone call, or a personal word of commendation will open up communication channels among your peers, employees, and business partners. This gesture will also build strong bridges toward future and more productive relationships. On the other side of the coin, do not be reticent about accepting 'thank yous.' When someone tells you that you have done a good job, offer a simple thank you and accept theirs. In intimate relationships, like friends and families, a warm hug or a simple tap on the back will surely make a huge difference on the recipient's feeling of importance.

As the 2007 draws to an end, why not make a list of all the people who have influence you in a positive way, who have been there when you were needing company and/or people whom you think you have forgotten to show appreciation to this past year. Then, send them heart-felt thanks in any way appropriate. For those dear to you, an old-fashioned and affectionate bear-hug will be one of the most meaningful ways of showing how thankful you are. IMO, there is no better way to start the new year right than this.

Here’s to a thankful new year to us all!