Never stop learning! That was the theme of my weekend back in person live with some of my NSA Oregon colleagues. Our leader for the day, Jim Cathcart had so much to share with all of us. One golden nugget he shared that absolutely resonated was to ask yourself the question; “What do you want?” This question determines EVERYTHING. Articulate it.
Compliments from strangers are almost always unexpected, but they also tend to stick in our memories for longer. There is something about someone you don’t know going out of their way to validate, acknowledge, or admire. Giving a compliment to a stranger can sometimes feel uncomfortable. You don’t always know how your message with be received. But if we are genuinely extending kindness to another person, we can feel confident that our gesture will be well received.
The gift of communication often gets taken for granted, but I was suddenly feeling nostalgic when I spotted this old telephone in an antique shop recently. It flooded me with a million memories.
I’m sharing the truth. I am a napper! There I said it out loud in a professional work setting. I used to feel embarrassed that I could use a nap some days of the week. It made me feel like I wasn’t being as productive as I was expected to be or that it wasn’t fair that I was taking this time for myself.
Showing gratitude is good for all, so why don’t we give thanks more? I read an article this weekend about research suggesting that people underestimate how much other people will appreciate being appreciated, instead focusing on their own writing.
World Kindness Day 2022 is on November 13th. Kindness + Curiosity = Human Connections. How we react is always our choice. Hate is never the answer.
Curiosity creates better leadership because curious leaders fulfill their employees’ need to be acknowledged. In our personal and professional lives, recognition is always important. It is a very basic human need to feel heard, seen, and noticed.