Page 164 - Appreciative Leadership

The Courage of Inspiration 137

TABLE 6-1
SEVEN REASONS TO BE GENEROUS WITH APPRECIATION

1. Recognition lets people know they are on the right track.

2. Appreciation communicates and reinforces your values.
3. Compliments foster a positive emotional environment.
4. Gratitude is a verbal immune boost; it is good for your health.

5. Praise is good for the health of those you honor.
6. Acknowledgment creates a sense of safety.

7. Gratitude encourages risk taking and experimentation.

Create a weekly appreciation checklist and use it.
PAUSE
Make a list of people you appreciate right now.

They may be colleagues, staff, and/or family mem-
bers. Make a note of what you value about them and when
you will tell them.

Inspiration takes courage: to explore and discover your hopes and
dreams for the future, and to put them into action. And appreciation
is one practice for courageously letting people, and the world, know
what matters to you and for inspiring others to help achieve it.

Visionary Liveliness

A vision that is not clear is not a vision at all.

Appreciative Leadership creates a sense of visionary liveliness through-
out an organization or community. As the Book of Proverbs tells us,
8
“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Healthy groups, orga-
nizations, and communities are known by the vitality of their shared