by Robin Landry

Created on: December 18, 2008   Last Updated: December 09, 2009

In this world of passwords, PIN numbers, security cards and voiceprint identity verification I think what many people crave is genuine human contact. They want to be known. They want to feel real. They want to be appreciated. While that might sound like a very tall order, it can be done and it doesn't necessarily require massive amounts of money. It does require sincerity, patience and the ability to focus on the individual rather than trying to apply a "one size fits all" approach to expressing appreciation.

The strategies that we can use to express thanks or gratitude to others aren't necessarily difficult and don't have to be expensive. They do, however, require us to pay closer attention to those around us and make the effort to connect with people in a slightly more meaningful way. If you've been operating on "auto-pilot" in most of your relationships, showing genuine appreciation for others will require you to flip the switch and fly solo for awhile.

In order to show genuine appreciation for someone it helps to know something about them. In the workplace this can be a little tricky since strict policies designed to prevent discrimination or sexual harassment may discourage of us from getting to know people on a more personal level. However, it isn't necessary to interrogate people or launch a full scale private investigation to learn something about them. Simply be observant; notice the little things that the person likes or does well and really listen when speaking with that person for clues about what they value and enjoy. You will then have a great foundation for incorporating those factors into any type of recognition that you plan to do.

Greeting cards are one relatively simple way to appreciate someone in a more individual way. But instead of getting the boxed set of generic floral patterns take some time to find cards that really touch upon the personality of the recipient.

A few years ago I had a secretary who was a master at this. She was quiet and hard-working; a plump and pleasant small town girl who had gotten a secretarial job at the largest employer in her town right after high school graduation and then had never left. As my secretary, her attention to detail was outstanding and my life as a manager ran quite smoothly as a result. Gradually, however, I came to understand that she applied this same attention to detail in her relationship with me and with the other members of my team and this came out quite strongly in the greeting cards

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