Patio Pondering: The Power of an Unexpected Compliment

This morning was the coldest since last February, 24 degrees here at the house, with the driveway and barnyard glazed in ice. I am enjoying my coffee from the kitchen window, looking out over the patio and snow-covered landscape. My winter wardrobe is not quite ready for pondering outside in the cold.

As I poured my coffee, a memory came to mind. It was a moment of unexpected praise from many years ago that still brings a smile to my face.

I was at an annual sales meeting in a training center still dressed in its 1970s glory, complete with shag carpet, wood paneling, low ceilings, and poor acoustics. If you closed your eyes, you could almost smell the faint trace of smoke from the days when lighting up in a meeting was accepted, even expected.

Like most meetings of its kind, the presentations dragged on as leaders clicked through slides covering topics many already knew or that did not apply to everyone. I do not remember what the National Sales Manager was talking about, but I remember when he suddenly called me out by name for doing a great job promoting a swine product line.

I sat there, partly embarrassed and partly proud that my work had been noticed. The best part was how unexpected it was. Later, as I thought about it on the drive home, those few simple words carried more weight than any of the charts or strategies we discussed.

Recognizing someone’s work in a spontaneous and genuine way can have a lasting impact on both the team and the individual.

How can you lift someone’s spirits today with a simple and unexpected “Great job”?

Too often we hold back praise because we think it is not the right time, worry it might embarrass someone, or fear that others might feel overlooked. Sometimes, though, a few honest words of recognition are exactly what someone needs to keep going.