My college professor walked into the classroom. “Pop quiz for a hundred points.” “What the name of the janitor in this building?”
Only two out of about 45 students knew the answer.
“What I want you to understand is that everyone in whatever organization you are in is important. Know who they are and learn to appreciate them.”
As Dale Carnegie wrote so many years ago, “Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language,” as well as, “Give honest, sincere appreciation.”
When we can give honest sincere appreciation every day to the people around us, we make connections that are integral to building community, our main job as school leaders.
There is much we can appreciate.
Keeping a list of items to appreciate in your community members is time well spent.
To help you get started here are a few qualities to look for in others and I’m sure you can come up with at least a hundred more:
loving, intelligent, innovative, dependable, strong, energetic, persistent, funny, gentle, kind, relaxed, creative, calm, tender, careful, strong, fun, interesting,helpful, balanced, generous, considerate, follow-through, strategic, flexible, versatile
Take the time everyday to give those around you bits of honest sincere appreciation. It’s what leaders do.
Download Dale Carnegie’s Golden Book here.
