Monday motivation | Thank You

Dear friends

Today’s Monday motivation article is on Saying Thank You, and what better time to do so than the last Monday of the year.

The year 2020 was supposed to mark the end of a decade and the beginning of another. It instead hid a couple of surprises under its sleeves. Some of the surprises were well received, while others left the world surprised. 2020 has been heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to global, social and economic disruptions, mass cancellations and postponements of events, worldwide lockdowns and significant economic recession in the history.

But, like any other year, this pandemic-ravaged year, too, gave us a few moments of joy, giving us enough tales to tell our younger generation. Here are a few good things that kept us fighting in the COVID-hit 2020.

·        Nature mended itself outdoors while COVID locked us indoors

Air pollution started dropping after March 16. The result was cleaner air and better visibility. While the improvement in air quality came at a high cost with stay home orders, nature had its much-needed break from us and global warming.

·        Animals reclaiming their territory

Does anyone remember how wild animals roamed the streets of Haridwar? Or when a commuter captured a Nilgai (Asian antelope) outside a Noida mall? Well, there have been several such incidents when animals came out of their hiding spots and roamed the streets in the absence of any human activity.

·        Digital Innovation and Transformation

Replacing activity programs and introducing activities that supported social distancing and in many cases complete lockdown was easier said than done. With ingenuity, creativity and hard work, we rose to the challenge of a completely different year of activity programming. The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted how digital platforms are contributing to our overall resilience and allowing large parts of society to continue functioning during lockdowns. In most cases, digital platforms such as video conferencing, e-commerce, or eLearning proved to be the most relevant and feasible alternatives to traditional means

Microsoft Teams, Google meet, Zoom, Video conference and many such tools came out as saviors and kept the world connected and moving.

·        Bringing families closer than ever

We never imagined that we would have to be stuck inside for so long. However, this time has also given us the opportunity to rekindle the spark that had disappeared from our relationships with our family and friends. With the fast-paced lives we were living, we hardly sat together as a family. The lockdown has given us a chance to go back to the days when family time was the most important time of the day. We definitely understand our family better after the lockdown. We know much more about them and how they think. We are also more welcoming to their ideas and thoughts and naturally tend to get a little less bothered by things that might have otherwise.

The list of good things that happened in 2020 can go on; however, with this article we would like to emphasize on Saying “thank you” – a simple but powerful gesture. It can lay the foundation for a positive relationship with colleagues and subordinates as showing appreciation builds goodwill, trust and unity in the team.

Here are a few common situations when we say all sorts of things, but should instead say “Thank you”

1. Say “Thank You” when you're receiving a compliment.

We often ruin compliments by devaluing the statement or acting overly humble, you don't acknowledge the person who was nice enough to say something.

Example: “Your dress looks great.”

Instead of: “Oh, this old thing? I've had it for years.”

Try saying: “Thank you. I'm glad you like it.”

2. Say “Thank You” when you’re running late.

Being late is the worst. It's stressful for the person who is running late and it's disrespectful to the person who is waiting. It might seem strange to thank someone for dealing with your hassle, but that's exactly the correct response.

Example: You walk in the door 14 minutes late.

Instead of: “So sorry I’m late. Traffic was insane out there.”

Try saying: “Thank you for your patience.”

3. Say “Thank You” when you're receiving helpful feedback.

Feedback can be very helpful, but we rarely see it that way. Whether it is an unflattering performance review from your boss or an email from an unhappy customer, the standard reaction is to get defensive. That's a shame because the correct response is to simply say, “Thank You” and use the information to improve.

Example: “This work isn't good enough. I thought you would do better.”

Instead of: “You don't understand. Here's what really happened.”

Try saying: “Thank you for expecting more of me.”

4. Say “Thank You” when you're not sure if you should thank someone.

When in doubt, just say thank you. There is no downside. Are you honestly worried about showing too much gratitude to the people in your life?

“Should I send a Thank You card in this situation?” Yes, you should.

Say thank you, more often.

This year has been like no other in our lifetime. I would like to send my thoughts and prayers to everyone who has been affected by this terrible virus, and express my gratitude to all frontline workforce, sub-staff for caring for our most vulnerable area like our sites, offices, guest houses, canteen, vehicles etc… in impossible circumstances.

Thank you for giving your strength to so many.