Appreciation: A gesture of being grateful for the presence of a quality that adds goodness/ value.

“Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.” ~ Voltaire

Appreciation is quite tricky. It can lead to motivation, excellence, and a state of gratitude or can lead to misguiding individuals at times. Care needs to be given to what is being appreciated. As we appreciate someone, we are acknowledging a certain habit, behavior, or quality that is showing up. What is appreciated is considered as validated and therefore the tendency of it being repeated is higher.

This is where being genuine, specific, and detailed while appreciating becomes very crucial.

Genuine appreciations leave us and others fully nourished. There is an inner will to do more, there is joy in doing more or a sudden resistance to do something magically disappears. It feels like a quality within us comes to light and radiates. Genuine appreciation multiplies, the quality is not only available to the individual who demonstrated it and the one who appreciated it but also to others who were a part of that recognition.

What are we specifically appreciating for? is the second aspect.

We can recognize results, outcomes, and the impact created (visible, tangible, and obvious actions) OR we can recognize inner strengths, aspirations/ intentions, and hidden potentials (inner, intangible, and subtle). A more wholesome appreciation is a combination of both. To appreciate subtle aspects, we need to have the capability to precisely spot an inner quality. And how do we do this, we access the power of observation and listening.

The third aspect is being nuanced around appreciation. Zooming in and sharing the exact pieces of the work or a quality that we are appreciating in them shows them what we are grateful about. It also brings out some revelations,

1. It is possible that a particular detail we are appreciating is our strength as well. In case we are one of their role models our appreciation would serve as a sense of achievement for them as well.
2. Or we may stumble upon one of our aspirations/ areas of development. Mention that as we appreciate, it will encourage them to recognize their developmental aspects as well.

Make appreciations a conscious habit. In one of the modules for a People Manager Program that we are facilitating, ‘Culture of appreciation”, we were discussing about the ways of appreciation, and what one of the participants shared left us in awe. So, sharing the group wisdom here –

Try to seek people in act of adding goodness/value and recognize those moments.

Appreciation is a gesture of spotting, nourishing, and being grateful for the presence of a quality that adds goodness/value. One aspect that we can be vigilant of, as we appreciate others – check if there is a hidden agenda or an expectation of something in return, continue to appreciate if it’s genuine, otherwise drop it.

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This article is written by Shraddha Patel, Principle Consultant at People First, Process & Idea Coach.