The effect even the smallest of us have on those around us...

[LanternWaste]

Yesterday, I told someone who works in my department that she's been doing a really good job and a really professional job as I passed her cubicle on my way to another department. It certainly wasn't a lie by any stretch of the imagination, but the feedback I received from it this morning was, well... it was one of the most touching things that's happened to me in a long, long time.

I'm not posting this as a "hey! look how good of a boss I am!" thing at all; nor am I patting myself on the back, or advertising how much my co-workers like me. As a matter of fact, I've honestly considered my co-worker interaction skills merely adequate at best.

I'm posting this to illustrate the effect even the smallest of us have on those around us, regardless of whether we recognize it or not. I've never even given it the slightest consideration until I found a envelope on my desk this morning with a card in it and the following written on it...

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" You have a God Given way of knowing when encouraging words needed and I have appreciated that from the first week I worked here. I see it in your inter action with everyone, from easy going personalities to the more challenging ons, in one way or another. Your treatment of others did more for XXXX, for instance, than you will ever truly know, this side of the 2nd coming of Christ."

(A paragraph dedicated to our jobs and other managers in the office, and then...)

"So back to you....NEVER underestimate your positive uplifting effect on those around you. Even when we rebel to change your gentle reaction to our rebellion, though possibly constrained, is a great ingredient in our mix. You really do contribute to our doing a good/great job."
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I've never received anything like that in my life. Even my performance reviews, nice as they were had nothing on this unexpected gesture. This was the first "It's a Wonderful Life" moment I've ever experienced and it came from a co-worker I hardly know and barely think about after I leave the office.

If you work in an office environment and see your co-workers as necessary evils as I always have, bear this in mind-- We all, even the smallest of us have an effect on those around us. I suppose that it's my responsibility as to whether that effect, regardless of how small will be positive or... not.

[Fredda Weinberg]

1. I'll second that n/t

[skygazer]

2. You're absolutely right

I work in a grocery store and so often the feedback people get is negative. It's discouraging and makes one wonder if they're doing ANYTHING right.

But there are a few people in management who take the time to say, "thank you" when I put extra effort in or to stop and tell me my department looks great - those are the people I'll work my fingers to the bone for. Appreciation is such a great incentive.

:thumbsup: