What’s that you say? Give “thanks”? Isn’t that just for Thanksgiving? Not in my book. The holidays are absolutely my favorite time of year to thank people for their efforts, dedication, accomplishments, loyalty and results for the past year. It is also a time when I always try to take a much more personal touch and check in on them to see how they are doing, what their plans are for the holidays, how they feel about the year just passed and what they look forward to in the new year.
Really let people know how you feel about them and that they are recognized and valued not just as employees, but as friends, confidantes, colleagues. In other words, the whole spectrum of “people possibilities”. Not just those at work. Why? IT FEELS GOOD. It makes us appreciate what we have to be grateful for in our lives with them. It builds long-lasting relationships that will sustain us through tough times ahead as well as build a better network of people to also help us celebrate our successes, exchange ideas with, learn from and most of all….count on!
Look folks, it’s a much more complex, demanding, challenging and often frenetic world we live in today. NOW is the time of year to SLOOOOOOOW down and really take the time to look around, see clearly and let people know you noticed them. It’s mighty lonely out there without that. And it’s been proven time and time again that no matter how independent someone may be or think they are, our health, vitality and longevity are positively impacted by strong connections to others. It’s true, no human is an island unto themselves.
So, thank you for a wonderful, rewarding and awesome year in 2012. And please follow my lead and don’t just send an e-mail. Whenever possible, find the time and place to reach out to people face to face. And failing that hand written cards and letters are great. Just remember, while e-mails and texts can mean well and seem really easy to use, they also can be misread, misinterpreted, even missed completely. I myself had a personal experience with this very thing just this week. In hindsight, I should have just picked up the phone and called my dear friend, rather than relied upon e-mails and texts. Hey, we learn from our experiences and I am no exception to that!
So, what’s the message? Value relationships no matter what type. Nurture them. Celebrate and sustain them. Especially this holiday season. They deserve it. And so do all of you!