[Ailist] Being appreciative

[Nick Heap]

On Friday, July 28, 2000 4:01 PM, Kelly Taylor [SMTP: wrote:
> I've been reading quite a few postings about using Ai as an exercise for
> executives to help them come up with positive approaches and it started 
me
> wondering....(snip) maybe there should be some emphasis on continuing
> appreciative thinking modes and incorporating them well into the rest of 
of
> the daily environment.

Dear Kelly and all,

I agree with you that there is often little appreciation or encouragement 
expressed at work. I think one of the most powerful things we can do to 
change organisational cultures positively is to "Practice what we preach". 
This could mean saying something appreciative at least three times a day 
when we notice something good. It feels scary, but after a while people 
will seek you out and start to give appreciation back, it is infectious. 
When I look warmly at the person and mean what I say it works best.

Yesterday, a client I was working with, said to me as we met "You look very 
well today". This "little" thing made me feel good and have more energy. 
Later, we were discussing appreciation and how difficult he found it to 
receive, particularly, and to give easily. We decided to try something. So, 
for a few minutes he told me the things he valued about working with me and 
then I reciprocated about him. This was rewarding for both of us. You can 
get the people you work with to do this too, both with you and each other. 
It is not easy but it is possible.

If you run small workshops or meetings you can ask everyone at the end to 
say the one thing they have valued, say, about the person on their left, 
directly to that person. It will lift everyone's spirits and deepen their 
connections. Always take part yourself, consultants or whatever need 
appreciation too.

There is a series of little books by Spencer Johnson "The one minute 
manager", "The one minute father" that are worth reading too about this and 
other simple things that make the world go round better.

Finally, have you tried appreciating yourself?

Best wishes,

Nick Heap

01707 886553 and mailto:nickheap@tesco.net
Web site http://homepages.tesco.net/~nickheap.