As leaders, our words wield an influence far beyond our awareness. Whether positive or negative, supportive or demeaning, the things we say can shape the individuals we lead in profound ways. Reflecting on my own experiences, I vividly recall conversations from decades ago with superiors that left lasting impressions, whether intentional or not.
It's imperative for leaders to be thoughtfully conscious of the words they choose, recognizing that one offhanded comment has the potential to alter the trajectory, positively or negatively, for those under their guidance. Mark Twain's words echo the impact of compliments, as he once stated, “I can live for 2 months on a good compliment.” Despite this wisdom, leaders often overlook the simple yet powerful strategy of expressing sincere appreciation for their team's efforts. Instead leaders will agonize on performance perks, bonuses or prizes when a simple acknowledgement would have been most effective.
In light of this, let's mark our calendars for World Compliment Day on Friday, March 1st. While it might be easy to dismiss the idea of dedicating a day to compliments, it presents an opportunity to reflect on how we can incorporate this practice into our daily leadership approach.
Similar to the way expressions of love for a partner extend beyond Valentine's Day, and appreciation for mothers goes beyond Mother's Day, I challenge you to leverage March 1st as a catalyst to make compliment-giving a routine aspect of your leadership style. By doing so, not only will your team appreciate the genuine sentiments, but they will also be motivated to exert even more effort, yielding greater results.
For those hesitant to embrace this initiative, consider the words of William Jones, an American philosopher: "The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated." I encourage you to intentionally give at least five thoughtful compliments on World Compliment Day. It could be as simple as expressing gratitude to your barista for their meticulous attention to crafting your beverage or acknowledging the thoughtful work of your direct reports on a recent project. Take a moment to reflect on aspects you may take for granted but would deeply miss if they were absent.
Ultimately, you might discover that incorporating compliments into your leadership routine enhances not only team dynamics but also your own enjoyment of the leadership process.