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Chronicles of a Graduate: The Power of Appreciation
By Patty Marra, Series Guest Blogger
Wednesday morning began like most other mornings do. I walked in, booted up my computer, hung up my coat, snagged a spot for my lunch in the fridge (which, mind you, can be quite a daunting task) and commenced the routine. I’ll admit it, a good portion of my day is spent on auto-pilot, and Wednesday morning I was in full auto-pilot mode. As I was perusing my emails and deciding which issue to tackle first, my supervisor came striding onto the floor. After a few minutes of hearing mumbled discussions, he appeared at my desk. He said, “Happy holidays!” and handed me an envelope with my name on it. After a brief conversation he continued his rounds, handing out envelopes and wishing everyone on our team a happy holiday season. When I opened my card, I found a card on the inside, with a short note thanking me for my specific contributions to the team. That moment changed the whole mood of my day. I was so touched by the gesture; I couldn’t help but feel merry. For the entire day, I felt reminded of why I put forth the extra effort each day. I feel appreciated. It was clear that other members of the team felt the same way—there was a kind of aura of contentment that day that can be quite rare in corporate America. But, note in hand, each of us felt validated by the short note thanking us for our contributions to the team. Appreciation is such a powerful tool—and it doesn’t have to cost a thing. It can come in the form of a gift card, or in a spoken thank you. It’s so easy to overlook when you’re bogged down with all the challenges of the day. But that note reminded me of how important it is to appreciate everyone around you. I certainly feel more apt to help someone with a project or problem when I know that they appreciate my help. Early resolutions: take the time to thank people, individually, for their specific contributions. Say thank you and mean it. Appreciate everyone around me, for the big and little things life brings our way. About the Author  Patty Marra is a freshly graduated alumna of Marquette University, who is working on answering the question, “…what next?” She is navigating the ever-evolving hiring maze of today’s business environment, and sharing the pieces of knowledge she learns along the way. She loves social media, but appreciates a good face-to-face conversation. Long-term, she is looking to establish a career in marketing project management, and help everyone she can along the way. You can get in touch with her by email, or you can find more of her thoughts via herblog, Twitter, and LinkedIn.Does this sound familiar? Are you in the same situation? Have you been here before -- what's your advice for Patty? Please comment below. |
