Have you ever experienced a time in your life when your efforts, your skills, your experience, your logic or your abilities were either under appreciated or simply unappreciated?

And did the attempt(s) to demonstrate the connection between your efforts, skills, experience, logic, or abilities… and proven results…make things better or worse?

Did it test your confidence?

Did it upset you to the point your vocabulary grew?

Did it make you sulk in a corner or did it motivate you to do better?

Over this past holiday weekend, I had the opportunity to visit with a large number of people from different walks of life where the oh-so-common topic of “What do you do?” or “Where do you work?” comes up.  It is part of who we are as human beings.  Some identify closely with work and some recognize it is a way to fund a lifestyle where we can enjoy our loved ones.  I’ve been in both camps and today am somewhere in between.

So I’m left to wonder, if you can’t describe your worth in 50 words or less, does that mean you’re worthless?

[This is a rhetorical question]

Perhaps, if you feel under or un appreciated, you are campaigning to the wrong crowd.

We all fit somewhere.  Some are fortunate to be highly flexible and can fit almost anywhere.  Others are less flexible but feel constrained by other factors that require they compromise.  Others still, refuse to compromise their thoughts, feelings or beliefs so they need more time to find a best fit where they aren’t taken advantage of, misdirected or miscommunicated to.  They feel appreciated for their efforts but aren’t comfortable having those efforts stolen or assigned to the wrong party.

“Assume noble intent” has been the single most blog reviewed on this site, bar none.  It stands as stated and is highly recommended for regular review.  With that said, no one should be taken advantage of, no matter the amount of nobility they exhibit.

What does this have to do with leadership?

Everything.

Leaders model the way.

When leaders show appreciation, others witness, emulate and reciprocate.

Have a blessed weekend!…and thank someone sincerely with a specific example of what they did, how it helped and why you noticed and encourage more of it…before you walk out of your business today.