Appreciation vs. Expectation

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What does appreciation mean to you? When someone acknowledges and appreciates you, how does it make you feel? Do you take time to show appreciation to others as you like to be shown appreciation? 

Appreciation is a broad term but bottom line it represents a caring quality. Music/art appreciation, a loved one showing gratitude for what you do - the little things, a pat on the back - a job well done. 

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The flip side is the fact at some point in time we have all felt unappreciated. That reason alone should be enough to entice each of us to step forward in showing appreciation to others. It is easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day tasks of working life and let the little things slip by, sometimes totally unnoticed - before and after.

March 7 is...

 Employee Appreciation Day

March 7th is a day of celebration set aside for managers, CEOs and employers in general to remember just how important and valuable their employees are in taking care of business at hand. A day to truly examine showing appreciation, rather than focusing only on expectation. This is an excellent time to exercise the power of appreciation by supporting and rewarding those who work long, often difficult hours.

Such rewards can be as simple as showing understanding. They come in the form of gratitude, love, and peace: a gracious thank you, a heart-warming smile, a sincere hug. Ever thought about allowing your employees to come in an hour later or leave an hour earlier without requiring them to make up the time? What about an extra coffee break, a long lunch? Sometimes even 5 minutes can make a difference.

There are tangibles, of course. Perhaps a single flower or a note of humbling words may say just the right thing...THANK YOU! What about a vase of fresh cut flowers to be passed around the office with a card that says, "A little something to brighten your day. Enjoy me for (set a time dependent on number of employees) then give me away." Offerings, such as cookies or cupcakes, that you've baked personally, are a huge hit! Another hit? Bring chocolate —anything chocolate!!!

Every day should be filled with words such as...

Start today asking how you would rate yourself right now, right at this very moment in the area of appreciating others. Let today be the beginning toward a goal of everyday where you are recognized as being a '10' — "an AWESOME appreciator!" If you are already there, I salute you for taking the time to be thoughtful toward others!

how you would rate yourself in the area of appreciating others - See more at: http://www.ericceo.com/the-power-of-appreciation-and-gratitude#sthash.ZLlKRVx2.dpuf

7 Last Minute Ideas for National Employee Appreciation Day