There is an old English saying, “The pen is mightier than the sword”. Well in today’s world we don’t use pen so much, are we? Most of the time the communications are done via: SMS, Chat messages, videos and or sometime even meeting face to face 😊
But my point is different, the good words and the good feedback are the fuel a professional can use to go on, in times of prosperity and in times of struggle. That’s why I found it sad that people don’t express so often their appreciation of what others do for them.
And when you find that rare sole who does this, you feel both hearths warmed and inspired to go on.
Recently I had a meeting with one such soul. As a coach I keep the stories confidential and I would never disclose private information about the conversations I have.
The conversation
This time the conversation was around me. Around messages I send to in the past.
I received the feedback: “Alex, did you remember the messages you send me?” I had sent messages throughout many days and I wasn’t sure exactly which.
And then my friend continues: “Did you know that your messages made me think about the way I was doing tasks in the past. I realize something and because of this. This week is one of my most productive ever!”. “Did you know that your messages made me think about the way I was doing tasks in the past”
The realization
At this moment I was extremely happy for my friend. I love to be productive too and if another person can become more productive working towards their goals, what a better reward I can receive. Not only that, but I was reminded about the power of the words and the feedback.
I am a person who works mostly on intrinsic motivation, but at the same time being connected to others is a human need. And what better way to express your connection with another human being then validating that their actions made a difference.
And I am sure that this person was sincere and not just saying it for the sake of it. Because that would be a big trap some people fall into. They pretend that they appreciate someone, just because they would want something in return. This is sometimes observed in relationships, where one of the partners “manipulate” the other consciously or not.
The Conclusion!
Think about yourself. Would you like to be appreciated and recognized?
If the answer is yes, then ask yourself, “When was the last time I made something good to others?”
And the act of good can be even by listening to others’ problems. You can also give a piece of advice, from your point of view, to help the other person to see the things from a different angle.
We all live on this small rock called planet Earth. If we become better towards others. And it doesn’t need to be hard. As long as we are there for others and allowed them to be heard and understood we are already contributing to this vision!
Aleks Vladimirov
Solution Engineering Manager at Thales | Senior IT Professional | Startup Mentor and Product Manager