In a season that encourages us to pause, reflect, and treasure the blessings of others in our lives, make a special point this year to extend that consideration to your professional relationships as well.  Through our interactions with others, we learn, grow, and excel in ways that we could never accomplish alone.  Yet do we fully appreciate those relationships?  Do we purposefully spend the necessary time and energy to nurture those relationships and give back?

Author Stephen Covey once observed “in relationships, the little things are the big things”.  Reflect on your experiences.  Don’t we know this to be true?  Yet often we don’t make the ‘little things’ a priority.  Sometimes we recognize the shortfall and attempt to make a grand gesture instead, to make up for the deficit.  However well intended, we soon realize we have completely missed the mark. 

In my journey, I’ve been most impressed with the leaders that recognized and committed to doing those little things exceptionally well.  Here are a few best practices I’ve gleaned from them over the years:

• Time is precious.  It is the only commodity in our lives we can’t create more of.  How we spend it is a direct reflection of who we are and what we stand for.  It is also recognized as a true gift by others.  To spend a few moments with others, shows you sincerely care and value your relationship with them.  In those moments, focus on being truly present, with no distractions from phones, clocks, and other distractions.

• Recognize efforts and reward results.  Both are important.  To recognize and respect diligence, commitment and sacrifice toward important objectives encourages us.  Doing so in front of the team is powerful recognition of an individual’s contributions and motivates all. 

A colleague of mine, widely recognized for her outstanding leadership, handed out gold star pins to recognize excellence.  A simple gesture that rekindles the feeling from our early elementary school days in a lighthearted but meaningful way.  ‘Corny’ you might think?  But I saw firsthand the pride in her team members in receiving these.  It wasn’t the value of the award; it was the recognition that mattered.

• Impromptu check-Ins with your team members.  Be aware of and ask about key interests in team members’ lives from previous conversations.  Showing sincere interest in the things that matter most to us is powerful.  It may be as simple as inquiring about a hobby or passion we enjoy in our lives.  US President Theodore Roosevelt once remarked “people don’t care what you know until they know that you care.”  Experience has shown me that truer words have never been spoken.

• Ask others, ‘what do you think’?  This simple phrase provides us important perspectives and details we may have lacked when facing decisions.  It also conveys a sense of trust and respect in their knowledge or viewpoint.  As a rather junior leader, I experienced the power of this firsthand.  I’m not sure how helpful my input was, but just being asked had a lasting and powerful impact on the kind of leader I wanted to become.

• Listen, period.  Too many times, we find ourselves listening to respond, not “seeking first to understand, then be understood”.  Intently listening, fully engaged and absent of distraction is too often in very short supply.  Looking at people when they speak, with appropriate eye contact and positive body language, conveys respect, appreciation, and sincere interest.  It shows we care and appreciate the person with whom we are interacting.  There is no greater compliment per unit time than being truly listened to.

• Say ‘thank you’ often and in meaningful ways.  While technology facilitates many ways to do this, such as emails and texts, I’ve found the time-honored practice of handwritten notes to be the best.  Yes, it takes more time.  But the recipients understand that the giving of one’s time is a gift as well, which adds to the depth of the recognition.  And, if you are like many of us, those handwritten notes are still with us many years later, serving as a proud remembrance.

None of these best practices is complex or difficult.  But, if you have personally experienced these from a leader in your professional journey, you immediately recognize the impact and profound effect they have.  It truly is all about the ‘little things!’

Authored by: Jeff Boyer, Managing Director