The ONE thing that makes ALL the difference in today's world…

How do you capture the heart of your employees or customers… in a way they will never forget?

How do you make sure your message truly sticks when everybody is bombarded with information?

How do you make the difference as a human being in a world that will soon be taken over by robots?

However difficult these 3 questions seem at first sight, in reality, they share one simple answer. And if we are to find that answer, we have to go back to basics!

Some celebrities' secrets to success

What do you think lies at the root of President Macron's overwhelming success - the fact that he seems to have managed to arise out of nowhere?

Why do you think President A. Lincoln decided to grow a beard and wear a hat, even though he already was 1m92 high?

What do you think was the key to John D. Rockefeller's success?

Again, the answers to these questions share a common ground.

President Macron mastered the art of making someone feel as if he or she is the most important person in the world.

President Lincoln wanted to leave even more of an impression than he already did without beard and hat.

John D. Rockefeller appreciated every single person he worked with.

The common ground defined: the basics we seem to have forgotten
Ethel Merman sang about the unhappiness of the working men: "they get paid for what they do but no applause". And the applause she was referring to is not the applause arising from the theatre seats! The applause she was referring to is the applause that comes from someone who is pleased with the working man's work - someone who has a personal connection with him, someone who is delighted with his decisions and grateful for his efforts.

Yes, indeed: it is all about the applause!

In today's fast-paced and competitive world, people crave recognition more than anything. And this shouldn't come as a surprise: we all have a genetic need to be praised, applauded and loved. We want and need a sense of belonging - we want and need a sense of purpose, and feel proud of what we do or what we are contributing to.

A simple "thank you" is a good start and goes a long way, but in today's society people want and need more…

Maslow's link
To see clearly why this is so, let's apply Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to an employee's needs.

The fulfilment of any employee's most basic needs would be comprised in his or her total pay package - a competitive salary with benefits and a safe work environment.  But once you move beyond both those basic needs of a physiological and safety nature, the need for love, belonging and esteem doesn't lag far behind!

In practice, this means that to make our people feel happy and engaged in today's workplaces, we - managers - need to be able to really connect with them in a sustainable way.

How?

By expressing our sincere appreciation! Recognition is vital because it sends the powerful message that our recipient is important to us: it conveys that we really care about him or her.

Kind words cost little but accomplish so much. In fact, they can even change people's lives.  So although, by tomorrow, we might have forgotten some of the kind words we spoke today, our recipient may cherish them for a lifetime.  And this is such an important realisation to make: we, managers, are in a position to either put someone down or lift someone up, just by choosing to be either self-centred and inconsiderate, or respectful, kind and appreciative.

We hold the power
Appreciation is where it all starts… but not where it ends!

Because once we have learned how to truly appreciate someone and have mastered the skill of always 'leaving a plus' in our daily communications, we hold the power to accomplish many more great things.

Not only will we increase our own happiness (because a staggering 85% of our happiness comes from building satisfying relationships with others!) but we will also learn how to connect on every level, with anyone that crosses our path.

And this ability to truly connect is exactly the common secret to the successes of people such as President Macron, President A. Lincoln or John D. Rockefeller!

So let me share with you 3 tips to touch people in a way they will never forget:

1. Our relationship with ourselves sets the tone for every other relationship we have. So before we can even start thinking about giving sincere recognition to others, we need to recognize ourselves first: we have to be connected to ourselves and living our lives wholeheartedly before we can touch the lives of others. So invest in yourself first - find your inner balance. Because none of us can give what we do simply not possess!
2. When you recognize someone, look that person in the eye; think about all the great things he or she accomplished and speak words of appreciation from your heart. Your mind and heart should be aligned if you express your appreciation; if they are not, your recipient will sense the incongruence and you will not able to connect with him or her on a deeper, meaningful level. Because it is only when you genuinely feel in your heart of hearts what you are grateful for, that you will radiate that warm feeling necessary to truly touch the other person in their heart of hearts.
3. The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is practice. If you want to become fitter, you need to go to the gym several times a week. And the exact same applies to recognition! Set time and energy aside to teach yourself to look for and find the good in people and tell them what you have found: find reasons for praise, be supportive, celebrate great accomplishments, study some great expressions and learn how to encourage people. Put this goal in your dairy and practice it every day until it becomes a habit. Almost every day of our lives is filled with several opportunities to fulfil that basic need all people share - that need to feel one truly matters. So practice how to give that unexpected gift of affirming words, and your life will change forever!

These 3 tips will help you master the art of true appreciation and connection. And once you will have learned how to lift people up and make them shine bright by opening yourself up, they too will be much more open to connect with you (and the message you want to convey).

You will touch them in their heart of hearts, and that is something they will never forget.

Are you triggered to take it even further than these 3 tips?
At the Arteel Group, we designed different online and offline tools to help managers convey appreciation more easily, in a way that is tailored to both their own personality type and that of their recipients.

So if you would like to know more about our available solutions, please do not hesitate to send me an email!

Nathalie Arteel
Leading Angel Arteel Group
Recognition Expert