Create a Memory and Visit It Often For a moment, think about one of the greatest team experiences you have ever been a part of… I am willing to bet a memory of a unique event that you did with that team or person comes to mind. People come closer through unique shared experiences. This is why quality leaders make memories! How to Create a Memory You may say that’s great Shawn, but I work in a stiff office environment or project site with tight regulations or I don’t have the budget to create a memory. All it takes to create a lasting memory for a team is a little initiative, creativity, and perhaps help from Google Search. A key is to make time for the event to happen, plan for it. There is no reason you should be leading in what one client described to me as a “stale” work environment. Your memory doesn’t have to be elaborate, take a lot of planning and cost a lot. In actual fact, some of the cheapest and most spontaneous events are the most memorable. In fact, most of the equipment I use during workshops and retreats comes from the dollar store. When leading expeditions, my clients expected to be pushed physically, experience harsh weather, and go without many of the comforts of home. What they didn’t expect is to have a “formal” prom one evening with homemade tuxedos and dresses at a camp on the side of a mountain deep into the Alaska backcountry or a remote coastline in Australia. Sometimes, I would pump up the event with a few...
As I was backpacking around the world, leading expeditions in my 20s, my grandmother back in St. John’s, Newfoundland, was always eager to hear from me on how I was doing. At one point, she actually told me to call her collect from anywhere, so I did. I called her from a remote village in the Himalayas, from an apple orchard in New Zealand and from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. She was shocked and thrilled each time I called. She would tell my parents how it made her day. The calls were short and usually revolved around the weather at home and where I was, but it didn’t matter. She appreciated the calls so much that each time I called, when I got back to my mailbox there was usually a $10 cheque from her saying thank you for the call. Think of a time someone made you feel great. It probably wasn’t because they gave you a huge or special gift. Most likely it was a small gift or no gift at all, just an action or an experience. Here are 7 ways to make someone feel great today: 1. Write random notes of thanks and support: We all love to be cheered on and we all love to be appreciated. An easy way to show encouragement and gratitude is by writing short notes expressing your feelings. This could be on a post-it note on a colleague’s desk or a well-written Thank You card sent by snail mail, it doesn’t matter. The act of doing is what’s most important. 2. Find out how they like...