Gary Lee’s Viral Tweet, A powerful lesson in how to leave employees feeling valued (in 2 Seconds!).

This week, Gary Lee, former White House employee under the former administration, sent out his first tweet ever about an experience he had working for former President Obama. The tweet went viral within days. What caught my eye about Lee’s story was not the political nature, but the amazing example of how a simple two second gesture can leave an employee feeling valued in such a way that they remember it nearly a decade later.

“…a simple two second gesture can leave an employee feeling valued in such a way that they remember it nearly a decade later.”

Lee, an American, born to Korean Immigrant Parents shared;

“I left the WH in 2011 for a Fulbright scholarship in Korea. President Obama knew I was leaving to learn more about the culture and language of my parents. On my last day, I went into the Oval Office and the POTUS greeted me by saying, "?????". Hello, in Korean. I’m lucky because @PeteSouza captured that exact moment.”

As a person who has been researching and training managers for the last decade, to understand what employees really want and need to feel valued, this story captures a key, but often overlooked, lesson. In order to feel valued, employees need to know you care for them more than just what they need from them.”

“In order to feel valued, employees need to know you care for them more than just what they need from them.”

What Lee’s story exemplifies is that his boss (who happened to be the President of the United States at the time) had taken the time throughout his career to understand his personal background, to understand his culture, and that he was aware of his goals outside of work. He took the time to know he was leaving to visit his parents’ country, his “Why” for going, and took the time (2 seconds) to learn how to greet him in the language he was going to study. What Lee’s Tweet shows is the impact this simple gesture made on him as an employee.

I often hear managers say they are too busy to connect with employees. What I find funny is that if something is important to us, we always make time for it. Few people can argue they have more on their plate than the President of the United States.

If you want your people to feel valued, to be engaged, show them you care by taking time to understand what matters to them.

If you want your people to feel valued, to be engaged, show them you care by taking time to understand what matters to them. As we can see, it is as simple as saying "?????". Hello!

It is as simple as saying "?????". Hello!

Great People Leaders Check in Biweekly or Monthly to Understand...

• Current Projects & Workload (from you and from others if that is the case)
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About the Author

Christopher Littlefield, is the founder of AcknowledgmentWorks. He trains leaders around the world in the Art of Acknowledgment and Engagement. His work revolves around the understanding that at the heart of all of our relationships is the experience of feeling valued. Conducting over 400 interviews and collecting thousands of surveys around the globe have shaped Chris’ unique understanding of what employees really want and need to feel valued. Chris has worked with Fidelity Investments, Kraft Foods, The Lebanese Postal Service, Salesforce, United Nations and more. Watch Chris as he shares his research at TEDx Beirut.