The fuel that powers us all.
It matters little whether your vehicle runs on petrol, diesel, electricity or some other synthetic fuel, it still requires fuel - regularly. That's because when the tank runs dry the vehicle stops going. No negotiations will help - you've gotta put more fuel in, and it's gotta be the right kind. Same with a pot plant. Keep it in the same pot for years in the dark with little else but water, it will initially stop growing and then it will die. Since humans are organic when you break us down, how can we be any different?
Stay with me a little longer here. It has become evident by a process of exhaustive research that the body requires a complex combination of food, water and certain minerals and trace elements in order to function optimally. It's curious that even with substandard diets, millions of people on the planet are able to survive, relatively productively, even if they are not always at their best. So with some warmth, rest and exercise added, that pretty much takes care of the body.
But what about the bits we can't see - the intangible things. How does a person stay cheerful? What keeps them motivated to complete a mentally absorbing days work, willingly, successfully and with enjoyment?
I have often been asked to motivate groups of people or show them how to deliver great customer service to their customers. But often I find myself reminding those that called me in of a universal truth. No amount of motivating can or will be sustained when your audience is emotionally dead, filled with fear, and toiling on without appreciation or recognition.
In today's work environment it is impossible to accomplish much without the help of others. When I was a boy, my folks taught me a phrase and encouraged me to use it often. The phrase is "thank you". The power of this phrase is immense. It encourages others to do more of what they have just done for you. And it makes us reflect on our own gratitude. It creates perspective.
The reality is that appreciation is a powerful and necessary fuel for all humans. People that are appreciated and feel appreciated perform better. They feel better. They work better, and they also appreciate others better.
If you were to recall the last time you thanked, praised or gave recognition to another person, the paradox is how good you feel doing it. And I hope you have a recent recollection of someone showing you appreciation, and the memory of how it made you feel. It's powerful stuff! We want it and we need it. So how about frequently showing appreciation to those who deserve it? Frequently and enthusiastically, but sincerely. I'm not recommending that you turn into a gibbering head-nodding wreck! Sincerity is the key.
My point is that we all miss so many opportunities to thank other people for the role they play in making our lives easier. The best way to address this shortfall is to create the habit of appreciating others. You will not only add value and enthusiasm to their lives, but to your own too.
Paul du Toit.
