Several years ago, a valuable book was written by
Dr. Gary Chapman, Five Love Languages. In it, Dr. Chapman explained
the need to understand what you value when I’m making an effort to
affirm you.
I like that.
Understand what you want,
Learn what makes your day,
Know what matters to you.
In our office, we use the acronym of WOW! which
means Words of Wonder: praise, affirmation, encouragement, and
support. We know the power of WOW! and clients value the power of
WOW! as well.
Five years ago, fifteen senior managers and
directors from a Fortune 500 company gathered for the opening of
their five day retreat. Sunday evening, the idea of WOW! was
introduced using attractive gift bags. I suggesting that, through
the five days together, participants could share pieces of WOW! with
each other by writing personal notes about each other’s talents,
abilities, blessings, and skills. Grins spread around the room.
There was full agreement that the WOW! bags were a great idea. On
Tuesday, midway through our program, I checked a bag or two to see
how they were filling up. Nothing! I checked five or six more- a
note here, a note there, but mostly- nothing!
When the group convened for the morning session, I
asked them about the WOW! idea. “Did I misunderstand something on
Sunday night? I thought you all agreed that the WOW! bags were a
good thing this week.”
There was a long pause and then a couple of sheepish
glances around the room. Dan spoke up. “It’s a great idea, Susan. I
guess I was just waiting for what people were going to write to me.”
Others started chuckling as they admitted that, they
too, were looking forward to receiving notes. They had forgotten
about their responsibility to giving them. All agreed again to get
on board with the idea.
By Friday, the fifteen bags were loaded!
The Senior Vice president of the group later shared
this. “When we were on our way home, you could have heard a pin drop
on the bus. Everyone was into their WOW! bags, reading what their
colleagues had sent to them. It was a powerful, powerful silence.
The example of giving and receiving praise and affirmation stayed
with us for weeks and flat out changed the behavior of several in
our group.”
Sharing sincere, specific and personal WOW! raises
trust between us. Increased trust invites others to give their very
best to achieve the dreams we most desire.
What WOW! do you need to give before the day is
over?
By: Susan B. Wilson, MS, MBA, CSP
©
Executive Strategies
(269) 408-1525
www.execstrategies.com
