Episode 90 - Important Words From Your Lips to Their Souls–In Business, Too

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Several years ago, in a seminar, I did an exercise in which I had people partner with a stranger and say one thing they admired in the stranger. After a moment of awkward silence, the room burst into excited chatter about smiles, teeth, clothes, attitudes, confidence, enthusiasm, etc. Later, as everyone left, Ken, the 35 year old manager of a plumbing supply store, felt compelled to tell me that in his old job, his boss of 6 years never once complimented him and never once said “thank you” for anything that was work related. Ken did not strike me as the sensitive type but he did strike me as being human.

Appreciate that what you say or don’t say impacts other’s lives.

Here’s what I call Important Words for Strengthening Respect in Any Relationship:
1 most important word: Thanks
2 most important words: I care.
3 most important words: You are important.
4 most important words: What do you think?
5 most important words: I am proud of you.

“I am proud of you” is especially important. Likely, there is someone to whom your opinion of him or her secretly matters a great deal — it might be your kids, spouse or parents — and that someone may be starving to hear those words from you. It’s unhealthy to withhold nourishment. If your compliments can re-energize a stranger like Ken, how much more powerful they can be with people connected to you!

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This entry was posted on Thursday, December 21st, 2006 at 5:30 am and is filed under Podcast. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Episode 90 - Important Words From Your Lips to Their Souls–In Business, Too

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