Seven Most Important Words: Continued

"Thank you".

Powerfully, wonderful words, when spoken with genuine gratitude and humility.

This simple phrase has magic in it, making the recipient feel respected, appreciated, dignified, valued, trusted, noticed, praised, and recognized.

Can you see how this simple phrase meets the needs and wants of all four personality colors?

"Thank you"...it reinforces bonds of relationship. One of the nicest things that Tammy and I experience is when someone takes the time and effort to send us a note containing these words. I have noticed something that happens, inside, when I read or hear "thank you". I feel encouraged. Thank you has the ability to create the atmosphere wherein the self-esteem of both the giver and the receiver may grow.

Saying "thank you" to my children causes them to respect themselves a little better. And, whether or not they would admit it, kids like to be thanked by us adults. I think it makes them feel valued in a special way.

I am married to a BLUE, and knowing she has a need to be appreciated, I began learning how to thank her for some of the thousands of things she does for me and others each and every day. Yes, you've heard us tell people in our Motive Matters training, "He thanks me for all kinds of things, even things like a clean house, clean towels, even clean underwear"! It is true. As a YELLOW I just assumed those things just "appeared".

In the world of business, the great ones know the importance of "Thank you". These two little words are rule number one in the book on customer retention.

Rick Warren goes so far as to propose that having an "attitude of gratitude" is one of the fundamental purposes of life.

Being a thankful person releases stress and promotes peace. "Thank you" can be the most disarming of all possible responses to criticism.

I had a man come up to me at a seminar I was giving and say, "I dropped in on one of your speeches for a few minutes a while back, and I have to tell you, I thought it was nonsense, and I got up and walked out!" I said, "I'm sorry, but thank you for honestly sharing your feelings with me because I am always happy to hear of ways I can improve on my trainings." With that he said, "Well, let me finish! I told you I walked out. I only listened that evening for a few minutes. My wife made me come to this tonight so I had to sit through the whole thing. And what I wanted to tell you is..."I'm sorry....because I really enjoyed the night and I got a lot out of it! I just felt I owed you and apology."

What a turnaround!

"Thank you" always brings out a smile.
Smiles are good.
Actually...they are wonderful!
Go ahead...practice alone if you need to...then try it on someone.
Just say it...
"Thank you!"