Today, encouragement is one of my favorite things to do. It is the fuel that sustains ambition, connection, and perseverance. When it is missing, workplace and personal relationships become stagnant, tense, or uninspired.
Encouragement is not merely praise; it is a purposeful expression of belief in someone's capability to succeed or overcome obstacles.
Reflecting on my 30-year career in telecommunications, I realize encouragement was often absent. My role demanded control over many areas, and when something fell short, whether it was budgets, customer perception, or work quality, my superiors held me accountable. Instead of shielding my employees from the harsh criticism I received, I regrettably passed it down.
If I could go back, I would approach things differently. I now understand that without encouragement, collaboration weakens, and a culture of competition or apathy can emerge, eroding trust and relationships. When my employees felt unacknowledged, their motivation dwindled, making it harder to achieve the productivity I was striving to improve. Fear of criticism or indifference silences creativity, leaving valuable ideas and potential unrealized. Ouch!
In my personal relationships, a lack of affirmation or encouragement can lead to feelings of neglect and resentment, resulting in misunderstandings and weakened bonds. Encouragement plays a vital role in nudging others toward new experiences or risks. Without it, they may remain stuck in their comfort zones, missing opportunities to grow and evolve.
Encouragement fuels ambition, strengthens connections, and fosters perseverance. When it's absent, my personal relationships can become stagnant, tense, and uninspired. This underscores the importance of offering and seeking encouragement to create environments where the ones I love feel valued, supported, and empowered to thrive.
As I grow older, I increasingly realize how I could have done things differently. I wish I had encouraged my employees more, as well as the people I love most. While life doesn't offer do-overs, I've learned an important lesson: looking ahead, I have the power to encourage others to see their potential and become more than they believe they can be.
How about you? Can you make a more significant difference if you encourage more?
Watch for the blind spots.
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