Make people feel valued
Some of my coachees are talking about New Year Resolutions. Here’s one I recommend to all leaders (and folks generally!): Make People Feel Valued – it’s easy to do, costs nothing, and can have a huge positive impact.
When we feel seen and appreciated, we feel good, we are more engaged and we experience more energy and commitment. This gets noticed and commented upon; we feel seen and appreciated, we feel good… and so it continues. We all know this positive cycle. But in the busyness of work and life it sometimes (in my opinion, too often!) gets forgotten.
Why do it? Intentional recognition is proven to have a significant impact on individual wellbeing. In workplaces it contributes to building positive relationships, improving retention, boosting team dynamics and enhancing organisational health. In life more generally it builds genuine connections and more positive environments.
How to do it. This is not complex or costly; simple, consistent and genuine acts are key, recognising the strengths and contributions of others. Compliment someone on something they did well. Thank someone for an effort they made. Tell someone that you appreciate a quality they bring to the team, friendship or family. Reassure someone if they have made a mistake. Not only will they feel seen and appreciated, the intentional act will lift you too.
Why don’t we all do it? Some people seem reluctant to share praise, compliments or appreciation. To be candid, I’ve never understood this: maybe it’s an ego thing, not wanting to appear ‘soft’, or just a lack of awareness of others. Whatever the reason, the evident benefits of making people feel valued should overcome any reservations.
So why not make 2025 the year you intentionally make people around you feel valued. To create a simple yet powerful habit, make it a goal to do one thing per day to show your appreciation for someone – a colleague, friend, family member or even a stranger. Everyone, including you, will feel better for it!
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this, or examples of where others made you feel valued – please do pop them in the comments to inspire others
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Photo from near the beautiful Brandon Lodge in Sweden