In the stress ridden environment we all live and work in everyday, wouldn’t it be nice to add a little happiness to your life and the lives of the people you impact? Some days it seems like we are all moving so fast and in some many directions that we lose track of ourselves. One thing I have seen over the past few years in the work world is that as times get leaner, companies get meaner. As people’s lives are negatively impacted by the economy, people get harder. I guess the competitive environment coupled with a little survival instinct can bring out different qualities in all of us. Wouldn’t it be nice to say I was above all that stress and strife? Alas, I’m not. I am not sure anyone really is even though most have the best intentions.
So how do we handle the stress and challenges? I recently was confronted with one very interesting approach to delivering the sense of urgency message, a message that all companies seem to have today. The approach and direction was “execute or be executed.” Yes, someone actually suggested that and felt it was appropriate in the workplace. Not really the positive message we all want to hear in the work world (or any world for that matter). But indeed, some folks feel that in a down economy with so many skilled workers readily available, that people have become a dispensable component of the process. Change for changes sake is not really a solution to the challenges of the day. For as much as people fail companies, I would argue that companies fail their people more often.
Obviously in the years to come many great business minds will write books about the “great recession” and how it affected our lives and businesses. Indeed many are writing them now. But I feel like it is more appropriate to impact the situation than to report the news. So in the face of tough business challenges, friends out of work, economic woes, etc. what can I change to make a difference? Well, in reality the only thing I can change is me and what I do in that environment.
So, in an effort to put more positive energy back into my life and the people whose life I impact, I am resolving to catch people in the act! You read that right, but probably thought about it wrong. My goal is to catch people in the act of doing things right and sharing with them the positive feedback and praise they deserve for the good things they do. (Come on, admit it, you were thinking the negative connotation of the phrase when you first read it.) Caught in the Act is a theme we could all resolve to do more with this year. So how does this Caught in the Act concept work?
Well it is pretty simple, the goal is to catch people in the act of doing things right, acknowledge their efforts and thank them for their contribution. The key is to do it on an everyday basis and to make it a core tenet in your daily activities. My goal is to create Caught in the Act moments a minimum of 3 times a day, every day. I think this is a very achievable goal and since I like to over-achieve I will be striving to exceed this each day. It may be at work, at home, in my community, wherever and whenever it makes sense.
It sounds pretty easy I am sure, but is it really? Remember, a simple thank you doesn’t count here. The challenge is to acknowledge the act and then offer the praise. Most people just go with the short and to the point praise piece and forget the rest. Taking the time to do it right really does take a little time and a little thought. Doing it in the hectic lives we lead each day is an even greater challenge.
So I am off on my personal journey of bringing a more positive spirit to the work I do and the people I impact each day. I know this will keep me centered in who I really want to be and that I will benefit from the positive energy also. In my own little way I hope to create at least 1,100 positive experiences for other people this year. I am sure it will be much more than that. In a world of social media and communication I will share some these interactions when I can and would love to hear and read about yours. So watch for Caught in the Act updates and reports on Facebook, Linked In, Twitter and here on our blog.
If you think it sounds like a cool idea, I encourage you to join me and do the same. Please pass along this blog posting to as many people as you can to share the idea. If a few people give this a shot and can bring a positive new spirit to their surroundings, the energy will spread. Good energy and good karma go a long way. I encourage you to join me in creating and sharing some positive interactions today.
I hope you get Caught in the Act!
