I received a very kind and thoughtful email a couple of weeks ago from Harla Adams, a colleague of mine who is the now the CEO of National Institute for Healthcare Leadership. Years ago, I hired Harla as a part-time temp. At the time she had no formal management or leadership degrees or experience, and certainly no healthcare background or experience.
Harla sent the email following the very successful Healthcare Supplier/Provider Institute meeting held recently in Chicago. Harla played a crucial role in the planning and execution of that very successful meeting.
Harla’s email reminded me once again of the critical, and never ending personal and professional importance of taking time to sincerely say “Thank You!”
Every person reading this Tips for Success wants to be recognized and appreciated. Every person you have ever met, every person you will ever meet, and every person you will ever work with has great desire to be recognized and appreciated. Recognition and appreciation are at the very core of human nature and human desire.
How long has it been since you took a few minutes to sincerely say, “Thank You?” For many, if not most of us, it has been too long. In many cases, far too long. Each of us have many people to thank as we move through our personal and professional lives. None of us… that’s right, none of us stand on our own or made it on our own. Not one! We all have been carried, helped and supported by numerous other people. To a very large extent, we are who we are because of the people who came before and with us.
I am sharing portions of Harla’s email, not because of anything special I may have done, but as an excellent example of just how easy it is to sincerely say “Thank You.” Many, if not most of these comments could, and no doubt are said about you. You have many, many people in your life who desire some, most or all of these very sincere compliments and words of appreciation.
How long has it been since you have sincerely thanked them?
In part, Harla’s email stated, “Working with you, I have learned that:
- There’s always people you can learn from
- If it’s to be, it’s up to me
- Anything worth doing is worth doing well
- I should always consider how people will take what I say, and then refrain from saying those things that would be hurtful
- Experience is something you can’t get quickly… experience is a life lesson
- Always leave things in a better way than I found them.
- There’s always people you can learn from
- All relationships can be repaired if people are willing to forgive and move forward
- Money isn’t everything
- It’s important to listen to others
- Listen more than talk
- Sincere appreciation is so important
- It’s important to refrain from cutting comments that don’t accomplish anything other than building walls
- It always takes longer than you think
- There are lots of great ideas out there, and implementation is key
- Over promising and under delivering is a huge mistake… say only what you can do, not what you want to do
- Every person has their own unique way of doing things…. and that respect is key to understanding
- Words can be much worse than a physical hurt
- It hurts to disappoint people and that when we do we should quickly and sincerely apologize
- Attitude is key
- Writing styles differ and that it doesn’t make one right and one wrong
- Unfortunately people hurt people they care about
- You have a unique way of looking at things and coming up with good ideas
- It’s very lonely at the top and the bottom
- How important it is to encourage those around us
- If you have knowledge you have power
- Regardless of how different we are in some ways, we are so alike others
- Each person we come in contact with in our lives is for a purpose and we need to understand that purpose
- The importance of compassion
- Everyone hurts when they lose someone close to them
- Health is a wonderful gift from our Heavenly Father and we should never take it for granted
- In time we all grow forgetful and we should never get frustrated with one another because of lack of memory
- I’m so glad our paths crossed.”
How long has it been since you sincerely thanked the deserving people in your life?
Right now would be a great time!
