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Love is choosing to accept someone— imperfections, weaknesses, demands, and all— no matter his or circumstances or needs. We need to meet our coworkers and customers where they are, not where we want them to be. Patience requires us to set our own expectations aside without indulging in frustration or negativity.
Recognition: According to Mary Kay Ash, founder of the eponymous multi-million dollar cosmetics company,“ There are two things people what more than sex and money— recognition and praise.”
Love is paying attention. We don’ t ignore that which we move, whether a person or an activity. Focus equals fondness.
Recognition motivated by love moves beyond the casual acknowledgment of existence; it does more than focus on what is. It focuses on what could be. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said,“ Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be.” Not surprisingly, the recognition of another’ s potential often starts him or her toward its achievement.
We have to recognize the specific needs and desires of those with whom we work and those whom we serve. Applying the irresistible ingredient requires us to move beyond small talk to the deeper issues in people’ s lives. It’ s far too easy to judge a coworker or customer by how he or she looks or acts rather than doing the hard work of understanding why. Challenging ourselves to really know people is unusual in our culture, but the relationships we build will
measure our success in the long run.
Appreciation: Friends of mine just launched an internet company called Propadoo( www. propadoo. com). The idea is insanely simple: use the web to make it easy for people to give and received“ props” online. Want to give a service provider a recommendation? Do it instantly at Propadoo. Want your clients to know about the rave reviews others give you? Use Propadoo.
Yes, there is a monetary payoff— referrals, buzz, and increased search engine optimization— but the social driver is more interesting to me. Propadoo is about recognition and appreciation. Propadoo lets people use technology to send a message that says,“ You matter. Your work matters. I appreciate you.”
Appreciation comes from looking for what’ s right rather than being hypersensitive to what’ s wrong. It is about choosing to focus on the positive even when you can’ t ignore the negative.
Too often we forget to stop and express our appreciation to the people who serve alongside us and the people who serve us. From the smallest gesture— a smile or a quick internet“ prop”— to the largest bonus or award, people need to know that their work matters to us. Our customers and coworkers will respond positively every time we offer genuine appreciation— guaranteed.
Love is paying attention. We don’ t ignore that which we
The Credit Professional 30 love, whether a person or an activity. Focus equals fondness. Counsel: Don’ t tell people what they want to hear. Tell them what they need to hear. Just make sure you tell them in a way that they will listen!
I recall being put off by a highly incentivized sales professional in an electronics store until he confided in me that the DVD player I was about to purchase was inexpensive but laden with problems. He would have made a commission had I bought the unit, and yet he demonstrated his concern for me by sharing that insight instead. His interest in helping me make a good buying decision instantly changed my attitude about him.
Love is offering wise and insightful advice that is in the best interest of the receiver rather than the giver. When asked, it is easy to criticize or suggest the first thought that comes to mind, no matter its validity. A thoughtful input or response shows that we value the individual and care about his or her needs.
Time: Love is taking time to address another’ s needs. In our lightning-fast world where the average attention span is less than two minutes, time is a valuable commodity and should be handled as such. By giving the gift of time to a coworker or customer, we show that we value them above all of the other things that cry out for our attention.
One of the most powerful love practices at work is the pause, making time to be fully present with another person. We ask each other“ How are you doing?” all the time and never
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