Tell Them How You Really Feel

Sometimes we notice something positive about someone and never get around to telling them. This can happen in a family or in business. Early in my career as a sales manager, a team member taught me a wonderful lesson. I had called her to tell her how much I appreciated the way she had handled a certain situation. A few days later she wrote me a letter. In the letter she told me how much it had meant to her that I had gone out of my way to compliment her. She enclosed a poem by an unknown author that summed up her feelings. I have never forgotten the words of that poem and have shared it in management training classes across the country. After you read this, look for opportunities to let people know how proud or excited you are about something they did. You will be amazed at how people love being recognized for the good work they do.

Once someone said something nice to me
And all undeserved though I knew it to be
I treasured it there on my heart's deepest shelf
And one day I quite surprised even myself
By honestly making an effort to be
That something nice someone said about me

                                            -Author unknown-