We’ve had a lot of new visitors to Weaving Influence over the past few days.
Can I tell you I love that?
We’ve also had a lot of conversation from visitors who have commented for the first time. Thank you.
I try to acknowledge each comment with a thank you (usually on Twitter). If I missed you somehow, please know that I appreciate the time you took to share your thoughts. I read every comment. You make me laugh and smile.
If you’re new to this blog, I hope you’ll come back. I write here on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. My husband, who we call Mr. Becky here at Weaving Influence, shares his perspective occasionally. My nine year old daughter shared a post once. It’s fun to do this with my family’s support and help.
This blog is still a work in progress. I haven’t quite figured out what it’s about yet. It’s about leadership and social media. It’s about influence, as the name suggests. It’s about making a difference. I hope that what I write here makes a difference for you.
Today, I’m sharing a post I wrote originally for Mountain State University LeaderTalk (slightly modified.) It also appeared in a White Paper called EveryDay Leadership, a collection of some of my favorite writing there. You can download it for free, along with two other White Papers I wrote there: Social Media for Leaders and Twitter for Beginners.
Thanks again for sharing my space here. Have a great day and remember that little things make a big difference.
Here are some everyday ways to make a difference by valuing and engaging others.
Stopping.
Looking.
Maintaining eye contact.
Smiling.
Affirming.
Recognizing.
Listening.
Sharing.
Thanking.
Remembering.
Inviting.
Including.
Encouraging.
How long does it take to say thank you? To smile? To stop, put your hand on someone’s shoulder, look her in the eye (really seeing her) and verbally affirm her for her work?
These positive actions take only moments. They might seem small. But when you add them up, they can have a big impact on your relationships with others.
Increase your effectiveness as a leader by taking time for these small things. Make a difference, today.
I am the founder/CEO of the Weaving Influence team, the author of Reach: Creating the Biggest Possible Audience for Your Message, Book, or Cause, and the host of the Book Marketing Action Podcast. I’m a wife and mom of three kids, and I enjoy running, reading, writing, coffee, and dark chocolate.
Hi, Becky,
“How long does it take to say thank you? To smile?”
Not very long at all, and it can really make a persons day.
The other day I was at lunch with a friend. It was a very busy and our waitress really looked like she was working hard and under a lot of pressure. When she placed my lunch in front of me, I touched her arm, looked her in the eye and said, “I really think you are doing a wonderful job, especially seeing how busy you are. I appreciate how hard you are working.”
Her face lit up as if she had been hit by a spotlight. She said, “Thank you. You don’t know how much I needed that right now.”
The whole exchange took maybe 10 seconds, if that.
It never hurts to smile and go out of your way to be pleasant to those around you.
I think that if a lot of us were honest, we probably tend to feel “invisible” most of the time. The small things that you suggested in this blog let others know that they are valued, and that is the biggest impact we can have on anyone. Thanks for the reminder. As a full-time mom it’s easy for me to lose sight of the small things in the chaos of a day. I pray that my children will know that my days are not about meal preparation, laundry, cleaning and errands but about loving God and demonstrating that love to them.