I walk into a shop, wanting prompt service but then I am met by a mediocre hello, no eye contact and service that will definitely not win them any awards. Clearly the shop assistant didn't give a damn about my me or the business that I would bring in.
A friend works hard and takes pride in their contribution to their workplace, often going over and above what is necessary without any thanks or recognition. This pushed them to the point of exhaustion and suffers a near nervous break down needing time off work, and on their return to work, their manager not even bothering to ask if they are OK?
On the court a referee drags their feet to keep up with the game, clearly disinterested in what they are doing. Missing call after call, with both teams becoming frustrated by the lack of interest they are showing in the game. They are being paid to provide a service. Why are they even there if they don't care about what they are doing?
When did we stop caring? When did we stop valuing the contribution of those around us? In this day and age of technology we are too busy with our heads in our emails to actually see what is happening around us?
Good service is a dying breed. It is so refreshing when you actually receive good service. By the time you do, however, it has been such a long time that you have had it, you don't recognise it! This purely and simply shows how much a person cares about the work that they do. You will rarely find a person who is able to give good service but doesn't care about the work that they do. Those who care want to do the right thing and do it well. They are people who don't want to bend the rules, and don't question them disrespectfully, they just get on with their work.
Would it kill you to say thanks or good job?
When someone does a good job, when someone does something nice for you, it would show you care by expressing your gratitude. It doesn't cost anything, it doesn't take a lot of energy to show genuine thanks. Ongoing lack of care in this area will cause relationships to break down. We have all had one of those friends or colleagues that you keep going out of your way to help and end up feeling used and abused. They quickly end up as "acquaintances" instead of friends, and for those work colleagues you learn quickly not to use your energy in helping them anymore (normally before its too late and you are spent). Nobody wins.
In a workplace situation a thanks or good job can go a long way. Studies show that recognition is closely linked with engagement and helps with a positive work environment.
Staff are more productive, provide better service and are there more if they
feel valued. It's not rocket science, but often a forgotten critical element.
Again, it doesn't take a lot of effort to write a thank you card, buy
someone a coffee, take over someones work when they are
overloaded, shout someone lunch, send them flowers anonymously, or just simply say a
heart felt thanks. It will make their day. How do I know???? Read on
You can influence some changes around you!
I have used all of those suggestions above to show the value people have to me and the contribution they make. At times not only just to me, but to recognise that they have had a positive influence on others around them. Sometimes they knew it came from me, other times they didn't. But what is important is that they knew that someone DID care about what they are doing and about them as a person. These people all say that the random act of kindness that was shown made their day!
It is NOT OK to stop caring, make sure that you continue to show genuine gratitude and take pride in everything that you do! You can change the world......one person at a time.
