John C. Maxwell once said, “Feeling appreciated brings out the best in people.” We all want to be appreciated in our relationships; at work by our staff, boss, and clients, and at home by our family and friends. Eileen Shenker recently gave a seminar called “Romancing Your Relationships™” at the February Women’s Financial Group hosted by National Bank of Arizona. Shenker reminded attendees that we have to make a conscious effort to appreciate those around us. She pointed out that often times, we think about calling someone up and saying thank you or think about sending a small gift, but never end up following through. In this case, it is not the thought that counts. Shenker’s mantra is “When you think it, act on it.” Many of us may think about showing appreciation to someone throughout the day. We think, “That was great how my team pulled the project together at the last minute,” or “I can’t believe my son did the dishes without being asked!” But the question is, do you do anything about those thoughts? Shenker noted that any appreciation you think you already show to your staff should be multiplied by three. Make your appreciation for others a part of your daily routine. It doesn’t have to be a grand act; a small gesture actually works better. Spending a lot of money is not necessary either. In this case, it is the thought and effort put in that counts. Shenker gave several simple and creative ideas to show appreciation that are low cost but have a high impact. The key is to make the act personal and authentic. Make the tag or label yourself, include a handwritten note, and have fun in the process. Here are some examples of small gifts with quirky labels attached that are easy to put together.

• A package of nuts with a label that says “We’re nuts about you.”
• A toy shovel: “We dig you!”
• A bag of popcorn: “Things are poppin’ around here.”
• A water bottle with a personally customized label
• Sending an article about the person or company’s special interest with a note saying “I saw this and thought of you.”

The takeaway message is: Showing your appreciation doesn’t have to take a lot of time or money. Your clients, coworkers, friends and family members will remember small gestures. Every time you think about showing appreciation for someone, stop thinking and do it.

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