Boost Your Success By Thanking People
"Approval and validation are often far more valuable than material rewards and are usually worked for far harder than mere pay." -- L. Ron Hubbard
In a Gallup Organization poll of 2,000 workers, 69% said praise and recognition from their bosses is more motivating than money. Four out of five workers said recognition or praise motivates them to do a better job. Despite this, most workers feel they are not properly recognized nor praised.
Studies by the US Army show soldiers improve their performance 90% of the time when praised and 30% of the time when criticized. But officers in the US Army still prefer to criticize and rarely praise anyone.
This principle proved itself once with a failing business that could not pay its staff. Instead of laying off employees or borrowing money to cover payroll, the new owner used validation and acknowledgement as "pay."
Every staff member stayed on board without financial pay for nearly two months. The morale of the group was tremendous. The operation became profitable and the staff was eventually rewarded with money.
Thanking employees is an effective management technique. Every manager and executive must know how to show appreciation to deserving staff members. Good acknowledgments encourage better behavior and increased production.
Workers can ALSO boost their success by properly thanking their bosses and coworkers. If your leader and teammates do better, you do better. For example, successful sports teammates are constantly approving and encouraging each other with loud yells and slaps. Enthusiasm is contagious.
Thanking people in your family or your friends can also create interesting results.
You can show your appreciation in many ways.
Eight Ways to Thank People
1. Verbally and directly thank the person. Stop the person, look them in the eye, get their full attention. "Pat, thanks for straightening out those files."
2. Explain why you appreciate what the person did. Be specific. "I liked how you used the colored tabs to make it easier for us to find files in the future." "I'm amazed how you got Little Bill to calm down and clean up his room." "Ever since you upgraded my computer, I get my work done much faster!"
3. Expand your compliment. "The way you organize everything really makes it nice to work around you." "Ever since you came home, everyone in the family gets along better." "If you help me with my computer in the future, I'll get a raise!"
4. Give indirect praise. For example, compliment one person about another person. "Bob sure did a good job fixing my car!" "You know, Mary is one of the best friends I've ever had." "I think our boss is a fantastic manager."
5. Defend the person. "You said Chris is too much of a perfectionist, but no one can organize things like she does." "If one of us was the boss, we'd have to be tough too." "Maybe you should say that to his face and not behind his back."
6. Ask for the person's help, opinions or ideas. As a boss, asking for an employee's advice shows that you value the person's intelligence. "Could you give me your ideas about the parking problem?" "Do you think we should hire another assistant?"
As an employee, if you ask a coworker for help, it not only shows you have a good opinion of the coworker, it encourages him or her to be on your side. "Can I ask you for some advice?"
7. Compliment their achievement. Instead of praising the person, you praise their work. Become happy, even excited, about the person's accomplishment. "This dinner is really fantastic!" "That fish tank has never looked cleaner!" "Mrs. Jones was very happy after you met with her."
8. Physical contact. Hand shakes, shoulder pats and even hugs can communicate your appreciation quickly and effectively.
Give it a try and really thank someone right now!
15 Questions for Making Great Decisions
To succeed, you need self-confidence. Luckily, self-confidence is easy to obtain.
"SELF-CONFIDENCE is nothing more than belief in one's ability to decide and in one's decisions." -- L. Ron Hubbard
Everyone has made bad decisions: choosing friends who stab you in the back, saying the wrong thing to your spouse, spending your money unwisely. Yet to succeed and have self-confidence, you must make decisions.
When you are afraid of decisions, you build up stress, create confusion and make people wait. When you put off making decisions, you miss important opportunities.
The worst way to make decisions is to take a vote. Asking for people's opinions is like saying, "I don't have any self-confidence. Please tell me what to decide."
The first thing you need to decide is that you can make good decisions.
And how do you make good decisions?
"Given information and the purpose, anybody can make a decision." -- L. Ron Hubbard
Decision making is like playing cards. If you know the cards each player is holding, you make great decisions and win all the money.
To make good decisions, you simply need enough information. 15 Questions to Answer Before Making a Decision
You can make all of your own decisions on your own. From starting a business to changing careers, buying a house to choosing a vacation. Any decision is easy to make.
First, list all of your options.
For example, Steve is trying to decide about buying a new car. His choice is not "to buy or not to buy." In this case, he actually has three choices: 1) buy the $60,000 new BMW, 2) buy the $30,000 used Acura, 3) fix up and keep the old Toyota.
As another example, Bob asks Dorothy to marry him. Dorothy looks it over and decides she has four choices: 1) Marry Bob immediately, 2) Marry Bob after a long engagement, 3) Don't marry Bob, but keep dating him, 4) Don't marry Bob and stop dating him.
Once you have listed out your options, find the answers to these 15 questions for each of your options. You will know some of these answers and can find out the others.
Somewhere along the line, your best correct decision will be obvious.
1. What is the goal or purpose of each option?
Steve writes, "1) The purpose of the BMW is to ride in style and luxury while impressing the heck out of my friends. 2) The purpose of the Acura is to have comfortable transportation without big loan payments. 3) The purpose of the Toyota is to have good reliable transportation at a small cost."
Dorothy examines the purpose of each of her options. She writes, "1) The purpose of marrying Bob immediately is to move on with our lives together. 2) The purpose of a long engagement is to leave plenty of room for me to change my mind. 3) The purpose of not marrying, but continuing to date Bob is to learn more about him without a commitment. 4) The purpose of not seeing Bob any longer is to look for someone else. Well, I can eliminate this last option as I'm sick of looking and really do love Bob."
2. How do the purposes of each option align with your goals?
Steve writes, "My goal is to drive something comfortable I can be proud of, but not consume all of my extra money. The Acura fits that goal best."
Dorothy writes, "I have the goal to get married, so the first two options line up with that goal."
3. What are the statistics for each choice? Each of your options has statistics.
Steve can learn maintenance costs, resale value costs, miles per gallon and so on.
Dorothy can check out Bob's statistics in life. How well does he keep his word? How much money does he make? What happened with his past relationships?
When hiring an employee, his or her statistics in life and at the last job are important.
When deciding on a job, a career, a relationship, a new business or anything, you can find the track records.
4. Finances? Two vital questions: What will each option cost? How much money will each return? The cost is not a barrier if the predicted return is greater than the cost.
5. Sequences? Most people forget to look at the exact steps involved with each solution. For example, you are notified by mail, "Congratulations! You have won either a deluxe AM/FM radio, $500 cash, a 60" TV or a cruise to Alaska!" You decide to go claim your prize. You never read the fine print or ask what steps are involved. After a four-hour Mexico condo timeshare sales pitch, you get a coupon for a cheap radio.
"If I decide to buy the BMW, what happens next?" You might realize you need to wait two months before delivery. You also realize you need to get insurance, pay registration fees, sell your Toyota and so on.
When interviewing job applicants, ask "If I asked you to start on Monday, what would you do?" Some applicants say, "Well, I might not have a car. . ." or "My bird has been sick . . ." A smart job applicant says, "I'll show up five minutes early!"
6. Is this choice legal and ethical? Is it fair to everyone involved? Will you be proud of your choice in the future? Would you have any problem telling a judge or TV reporter about your choice?
7. What is the probability of success? For example, how many BMW or Acura buyers are happy enough to buy a similar car? How long will the Toyota last?
Estimate the odds of success for each choice if you have no concrete data.
Dorothy estimates the odds of a successful marriage to Bob are higher with her second option, if she has a long engagement, than the other two remaining options.
8. Do I have the resources? Resources include people, space, skill, knowledge, money and time. Do you have the necessary means for each choice?
9. What are the end results? If everything went smoothly, how would each choice turn out? What would the results be? How would it change things in a year or two?
10. What do others want me to do and why? As your choice probably affects other people, you want to know what choice they want you to make. More importantly, why they want you to make it.
Make a list of everyone who is affected and what you believe they want.
You are not asking them to help with your decision, you are merely gathering information.
11. What are the potential gains and benefits? List each of these categories for each choice.
12. What are the potential losses and liabilities? Worst-case scenarios and risks. For each risk, look at how you can protect yourself or your group.
For example, David is considering a major expansion of his hair brush company. He looks at the risks and realizes he could end with too many hair brushes in storage. To protect his group, he realizes he needs to expand his marketing and sales before increasing his manufacturing to ensure he won't have a storage problem.
Dorothy evaluates the risks of a marriage and realizes a long engagement has a much lower risk of divorce than a fast marriage.
13. What are all the barriers and difficulties for each choice? What gets in the road of each choice. Lack of money? No one else wants it? Not enough time? Fear?
David sees months of hard work to cause the expansion.
Steve sees no difficulties in buying the BMW or Acura, but lists several problems with repairing his old Toyota.
Dorothy realizes Bob might not like the third option of just dating, but would support a long or short engagement.
14. What would be easy and effortless about each choice? Some choices involve no barriers at all.
15. What do I really want? What am I willing to do? What interests me? Which choice turns me on and makes me happiest? Why do I feel like doing it?
This last question is the deal breaker. Interest and enthusiasm are vital to a decision ending up being the right decision.
An okay decision with lots of interest and enthusiasm is more successful than a brilliant decision with no interest or enthusiasm.
You never regret a correct decision. It stands the test of time. A series of correct decisions will build your certainty and confidence. And once those around you learn you are usually right, they follow your lead without hesitation.
"SELF-CONFIDENCE is nothing more than belief in one's ability to decide and in one's decisions." -- L. Ron Hubbard
Everyone has made bad decisions: choosing friends who stab you in the back, saying the wrong thing to your spouse, spending your money unwisely. Yet to succeed and have self-confidence, you must make decisions.
When you are afraid of decisions, you build up stress, create confusion and make people wait. When you put off making decisions, you miss important opportunities.
The worst way to make decisions is to take a vote. Asking for people's opinions is like saying, "I don't have any self-confidence. Please tell me what to decide."
The first thing you need to decide is that you can make good decisions.
And how do you make good decisions?
"Given information and the purpose, anybody can make a decision." -- L. Ron Hubbard
Decision making is like playing cards. If you know the cards each player is holding, you make great decisions and win all the money.
To make good decisions, you simply need enough information. 15 Questions to Answer Before Making a Decision
You can make all of your own decisions on your own. From starting a business to changing careers, buying a house to choosing a vacation. Any decision is easy to make.
First, list all of your options.
For example, Steve is trying to decide about buying a new car. His choice is not "to buy or not to buy." In this case, he actually has three choices: 1) buy the $60,000 new BMW, 2) buy the $30,000 used Acura, 3) fix up and keep the old Toyota.
As another example, Bob asks Dorothy to marry him. Dorothy looks it over and decides she has four choices: 1) Marry Bob immediately, 2) Marry Bob after a long engagement, 3) Don't marry Bob, but keep dating him, 4) Don't marry Bob and stop dating him.
Once you have listed out your options, find the answers to these 15 questions for each of your options. You will know some of these answers and can find out the others.
Somewhere along the line, your best correct decision will be obvious.
1. What is the goal or purpose of each option?
Steve writes, "1) The purpose of the BMW is to ride in style and luxury while impressing the heck out of my friends. 2) The purpose of the Acura is to have comfortable transportation without big loan payments. 3) The purpose of the Toyota is to have good reliable transportation at a small cost."
Dorothy examines the purpose of each of her options. She writes, "1) The purpose of marrying Bob immediately is to move on with our lives together. 2) The purpose of a long engagement is to leave plenty of room for me to change my mind. 3) The purpose of not marrying, but continuing to date Bob is to learn more about him without a commitment. 4) The purpose of not seeing Bob any longer is to look for someone else. Well, I can eliminate this last option as I'm sick of looking and really do love Bob."
2. How do the purposes of each option align with your goals?
Steve writes, "My goal is to drive something comfortable I can be proud of, but not consume all of my extra money. The Acura fits that goal best."
Dorothy writes, "I have the goal to get married, so the first two options line up with that goal."
3. What are the statistics for each choice? Each of your options has statistics.
Steve can learn maintenance costs, resale value costs, miles per gallon and so on.
Dorothy can check out Bob's statistics in life. How well does he keep his word? How much money does he make? What happened with his past relationships?
When hiring an employee, his or her statistics in life and at the last job are important.
When deciding on a job, a career, a relationship, a new business or anything, you can find the track records.
4. Finances? Two vital questions: What will each option cost? How much money will each return? The cost is not a barrier if the predicted return is greater than the cost.
5. Sequences? Most people forget to look at the exact steps involved with each solution. For example, you are notified by mail, "Congratulations! You have won either a deluxe AM/FM radio, $500 cash, a 60" TV or a cruise to Alaska!" You decide to go claim your prize. You never read the fine print or ask what steps are involved. After a four-hour Mexico condo timeshare sales pitch, you get a coupon for a cheap radio.
"If I decide to buy the BMW, what happens next?" You might realize you need to wait two months before delivery. You also realize you need to get insurance, pay registration fees, sell your Toyota and so on.
When interviewing job applicants, ask "If I asked you to start on Monday, what would you do?" Some applicants say, "Well, I might not have a car. . ." or "My bird has been sick . . ." A smart job applicant says, "I'll show up five minutes early!"
6. Is this choice legal and ethical? Is it fair to everyone involved? Will you be proud of your choice in the future? Would you have any problem telling a judge or TV reporter about your choice?
7. What is the probability of success? For example, how many BMW or Acura buyers are happy enough to buy a similar car? How long will the Toyota last?
Estimate the odds of success for each choice if you have no concrete data.
Dorothy estimates the odds of a successful marriage to Bob are higher with her second option, if she has a long engagement, than the other two remaining options.
8. Do I have the resources? Resources include people, space, skill, knowledge, money and time. Do you have the necessary means for each choice?
9. What are the end results? If everything went smoothly, how would each choice turn out? What would the results be? How would it change things in a year or two?
10. What do others want me to do and why? As your choice probably affects other people, you want to know what choice they want you to make. More importantly, why they want you to make it.
Make a list of everyone who is affected and what you believe they want.
You are not asking them to help with your decision, you are merely gathering information.
11. What are the potential gains and benefits? List each of these categories for each choice.
12. What are the potential losses and liabilities? Worst-case scenarios and risks. For each risk, look at how you can protect yourself or your group.
For example, David is considering a major expansion of his hair brush company. He looks at the risks and realizes he could end with too many hair brushes in storage. To protect his group, he realizes he needs to expand his marketing and sales before increasing his manufacturing to ensure he won't have a storage problem.
Dorothy evaluates the risks of a marriage and realizes a long engagement has a much lower risk of divorce than a fast marriage.
13. What are all the barriers and difficulties for each choice? What gets in the road of each choice. Lack of money? No one else wants it? Not enough time? Fear?
David sees months of hard work to cause the expansion.
Steve sees no difficulties in buying the BMW or Acura, but lists several problems with repairing his old Toyota.
Dorothy realizes Bob might not like the third option of just dating, but would support a long or short engagement.
14. What would be easy and effortless about each choice? Some choices involve no barriers at all.
15. What do I really want? What am I willing to do? What interests me? Which choice turns me on and makes me happiest? Why do I feel like doing it?
This last question is the deal breaker. Interest and enthusiasm are vital to a decision ending up being the right decision.
An okay decision with lots of interest and enthusiasm is more successful than a brilliant decision with no interest or enthusiasm.
You never regret a correct decision. It stands the test of time. A series of correct decisions will build your certainty and confidence. And once those around you learn you are usually right, they follow your lead without hesitation.
Courage
You
are walking down the sidewalk and a guy walks up to you on the
street and demands money. You are driving down the road and a
police officer pulls you over. The leader of your group asks you to
speak to the entire group.
Your boss or a colleague is so mad at you he or she starts to scream. Your main investment suddenly crashes. The neighborhood bully wants to talk to you.
As someone who wants to succeed, you need courage to deal with anything that scares you. You must face your fears head on. You need several types of courage.
The courage to discuss touchy issues.
The courage to be criticized.
The courage to say "no."
The courage to make decisions.
The courage to tell the truth.
The courage to face the facts.
The courage to be in the minority.
The courage to hold a position.
The courage to admit you are wrong.
The courage to trust others.
The courage to accept responsibility.
The courage to disagree.
The courage to change.
Without courage, your success is unlikely.
"A person of high courage is a valuable associate and group member, but a coward is a dangerous liability as a friend." From Science of Survival by L. Ron Hubbard
Each time you use more courage, you enjoy new benefits.
You feel calm and peaceful. Problems that were persisting now tend to disappear. Your confidence soars to new heights.
Managing your business, job or career becomes easier. You feel more energy. You sleep better.
People around you follow your example. You inspire everyone to be more courageous. Your family and groups become stronger.
Eight Articles to Help You Increase Your Courage
1. You have more courage if you are passionate. Fire up your purpose. Arouse your intensity. See "The Power of Passion."
2. Make steady, orderly progress. See "Orderly Progress = Power."
3. Communicate, communicate, communicate. You will often find the courage to communicate is all you need to resolve difficult situations. See "When in Doubt, Communicate."
4. Prepare for a confrontation. Write down your plan of action, list all contingencies and set the stage. See "How to Handle Difficult People."
5. Lighten up. Your odds of success are much greater if you are less serious about everything. See "Being Too Serious Can Drive You Crazy."
6. Look at the challenge as an opportunity. Much of what you have accomplished has taken courage. Every time you go through a difficulty, you come out stronger. See "Fishing Story: The Benefits of a Challenge."
7. Do not assume anything. Do not listen to others. Look for yourself. Horses are often terrified of shallow streams until they step in and feel the water is only an inch deep. Once you actually talk to a bully, you find it's not such a big deal. See "Operating with the Truth."
8. Be more of a professional. Assuming a professional attitude includes new courage.
Your boss or a colleague is so mad at you he or she starts to scream. Your main investment suddenly crashes. The neighborhood bully wants to talk to you.
As someone who wants to succeed, you need courage to deal with anything that scares you. You must face your fears head on. You need several types of courage.
The courage to discuss touchy issues.
The courage to be criticized.
The courage to say "no."
The courage to make decisions.
The courage to tell the truth.
The courage to face the facts.
The courage to be in the minority.
The courage to hold a position.
The courage to admit you are wrong.
The courage to trust others.
The courage to accept responsibility.
The courage to disagree.
The courage to change.
Without courage, your success is unlikely.
"A person of high courage is a valuable associate and group member, but a coward is a dangerous liability as a friend." From Science of Survival by L. Ron Hubbard
Each time you use more courage, you enjoy new benefits.
You feel calm and peaceful. Problems that were persisting now tend to disappear. Your confidence soars to new heights.
Managing your business, job or career becomes easier. You feel more energy. You sleep better.
People around you follow your example. You inspire everyone to be more courageous. Your family and groups become stronger.
Eight Articles to Help You Increase Your Courage
1. You have more courage if you are passionate. Fire up your purpose. Arouse your intensity. See "The Power of Passion."
2. Make steady, orderly progress. See "Orderly Progress = Power."
3. Communicate, communicate, communicate. You will often find the courage to communicate is all you need to resolve difficult situations. See "When in Doubt, Communicate."
4. Prepare for a confrontation. Write down your plan of action, list all contingencies and set the stage. See "How to Handle Difficult People."
5. Lighten up. Your odds of success are much greater if you are less serious about everything. See "Being Too Serious Can Drive You Crazy."
6. Look at the challenge as an opportunity. Much of what you have accomplished has taken courage. Every time you go through a difficulty, you come out stronger. See "Fishing Story: The Benefits of a Challenge."
7. Do not assume anything. Do not listen to others. Look for yourself. Horses are often terrified of shallow streams until they step in and feel the water is only an inch deep. Once you actually talk to a bully, you find it's not such a big deal. See "Operating with the Truth."
8. Be more of a professional. Assuming a professional attitude includes new courage.
Smile Always!! It Adds to Your Value
A smile cost nothing but gives much. It enriches those who receive without making poorer those who gives. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes last forever. None is so rich or mighty that he can get along without it, and none is so poor that he cannot be made rich by it. A smile creates happiness in the home, fosters goodwill in business and is the countersign of friendship. It brings rest to the weary, cheer to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and is nature's best antidote for trouble. Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile as much as he who has no more to give. Keep smiling-it makes people wonder what you've been up to. The bitterest misfortune can be covered up with a smile. Laughter is regional but a smile extends over the whole face. So, if you didn't start out the day with a smile, it's not too late to start practicing for tomorrow.
The Way to True Happiness
Happiness is a choice you have to make. It is a state of being which only you can create.
You don’t find happiness, you make happiness. Happiness is man's greatest aim
in life. Realize that true happiness lies within you. Waste no time and effort
searching for it outside. Just learn to reach out, share, smile, and hug.
Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on
yourself. It's contagious... where you
reflect it, then all others around you catch the happy bug and are happy too. True happiness comes when what you think, what
you say, and what you do are in harmony.
A happy person is not a person in a certain set of
circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes. It comes only from appreciating what you have
right now. You can even be happy by
appreciating your troubles because they are helping you to build your
character. It is not easy to find
happiness in ourselves and it is not possible to find it elsewhere. Happiness
is not merely a life lived by accumulating moments of pleasure. On the
contrary, happiness is a long lasting enduring enjoyment of life; it is being
in love with living. It's your reward for achieving a good character and
personal rational values in life. Happiness for me is to know that my life has
meaning and purpose, and that every day my life touches others in a positive
way...whether to make them laugh or learn or both at once! Thousands of candles can be lighted from a
single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. It never
decreases by being shared. The time to be happy is now. The place to be happy is
here. The way to be happy is to make others happy. Make someone happy today!
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