by Anthony Demangone
Tis the season...for non-stop commercials for holiday gifts. It seems with every commercial break, Kate and Briggs' eyes get larger and larger
Daddy, I want THAT!It is a phrase I hear more and more. And I wince when I think of the cost ofall that plastic.
Thank goodness for good friends. One of those friends passed along a wonderful article that reminds us that some of the best gifts we can givethat don't cost a thing.(Forbes.com.) Here are a few tid-bits from the article.
1. Say “thank you.”Expressing gratitude to others for the things that they do for us makes them feel appreciated and validated. That makes them more likely to do good work for us in the future. We then know we can count on them. It’s a win-win. So make a New Year’s resolution to actively thank people for a job well done – no matter how busy you may be.
2. Give out compliments.When we compliment others, we can build rapport and create a meaningful connection with them. But they won’t have this effect unless they are genuine. If we actually feel jealous, for example, our compliments will fall flat. Others will notice, through our non-verbal communication (such as a fake smile or lack of eye contact), that we don’t mean it. Remember that elevating others does not mean bringing ourselves down–whether or not we are on the same team.
