| Make Me Feel Important
“Pretend that every single person you meet has a sign around his or her neck that says, Make Me Feel Important. Not only will you succeed in sales, you will succeed in life.” No one can deny that Mary Kay Ash, who said the above words, succeeded in life. I will take it a step further and add another phrase onto the sign: Appreciate Me. Actually, the two phrases are interchangeable and they do apply to everyone you meet, whether it be personal or business encounters.
Appreciation in business encounters can make or break you. In an October MSNBC story, recent US Department of Labor data showed that “the number one reason people leave their jobs is that they do not feel appreciated. Not low pay, not lack of benefits, but lack of appreciation.” In his book, The Success Principles, Jack Canfield says, “a recent management study revealed that 46% of employees leaving a company do so because they feel unappreciated; 61% said their bosses don’t place much importance on them as people, and 88% said they do not receive acknowledgment for the work they do.”
What does this mean for you? What does your appreciation scorecard show? If you are failing, these tips can help boost your score. Canfield says you first must recognize what kind of appreciation those around you prefer:
• Auditory people want to hear it. They want to be told to their face that they are appreciated. If you send this person a card or an email, the effect is not the same.
• Visual people need to see it. So, send them the card or write them a letter. Shower them with flowers, plaques, certificates, and pictures. These people are easy to recognize because their bulletin boards or desks are magnets for their gifts. A simple “thank you” just won’t cut it for these people.
• Kinesthetic people need to feel it. They like a hug, a handshake, or a pat on the back. A lunch or dinner engagement, or an afternoon at the ball game also works for this type, as would a certificate for a massage.
You can become a pro at appreciation when you recognize what each of your employees craves and then deliver it. If in doubt, deliver all three over time and see which one gets the biggest response.
But wait; don’t stop with your business. These same principles apply to your personal life also. What kind of appreciation does your spouse enjoy, and how about your children? If you’re not sure ask them – “Tell me about a time when you felt really loved and appreciated by me. Was it by something I said, something I did, or the way I touched you?” Ask your friends also; you do want to appreciate them.
While you’re at it, ask yourself these same questions. What type of appreciation encourages you the most? Not only do you receive this from others, but you also are responsible for giving yourself appreciation. Make yourself important, you deserve it.
But, that’s just the first part of the story. Now that you know what kind of appreciation is appreciated, you have to give it. When I attended the Dental Boot Kamp continuum (www.dentalbootkamp.com) in the late 1990’s I was introduced to the “I Appreciate” slip. It says I Appreciate ___________ Because _________________with plenty of room to write your reasons. During the weekend, I, and others found ourselves writing these notes to people we wanted to appreciate. They were used for team members, other doctors, facilitators on the DBK team, the meeting staff, and others. By the end of the weekend, the power of appreciation reverberated throughout the room. Best of all, we felt important.
Make others feel important by using these handy slips in your office and your home.
• Do you have a team member who went above and beyond?
• Do you have a patient you want to recognize who always comes on time for their appointments and never misses one?
• Do you have a lab tech who delivers quality work?
• Do you have a child who is quick to help out at home?
• Do you have a friend who helped you through a sticky situation?
• When was the last time you appreciated your spouse?
The list is endless; the point is to appreciate. Have an appreciation jar at the office and have one at home. Fill it up till it is overflowing, share with others, and fill it back up again. So often, you are on fast-forward and tell yourself you don’t have time to write a note, or give someone a pat on the back, or call the florist to order flowers. Do realize that you receive ten-fold by appreciating others and making them feel important. That’s a stepping stone to success!
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