SPG Blog

“Each person’s greatest room for growth is in the areas of his or her greatest strength.” – Now, Discover Your Strengths, Marcus Buckingham & Donald O. Clifton.

Acknowledgement is the process of bringing out the best in others, by endorsing who they are. Ongoing acknowledgement and celebration improves the performance of professional athletes; similarly, it applies to individuals in all walks of life. Whether you are a manager, supervisor, parent, colleague, friend, sibling, offspring – we can all benefit from more acknowledgement in our lives.

There is a distinction to draw between acknowledging and complimenting someone. Complimenting is to share what you like about someone, their actions or their possessions; whereas acknowledging a person is to compliment who they are. Acknowledging goes deep to the heart of who someone is.

Can you remember a time when you truly felt acknowledged? What difference did it make for you? Personally, when I am being recognized for who I am, I feel validated, more confident, and inspired to continue being the best I can be. Do you want the best for the people in your life? Do you want them to be the best they can be? Do you want them to have strength to go to the next level? Acknowledge them!

What are some benefits of acknowledging?

• Builds rapport
• Strengthens relationships
• Inspires furthering and strengthening the attribute
• Builds on strengths
• Empowers the individual to keep growing
• Inspires courage to go to the next level

Here are some tips or techniques to consider employing in your practice of acknowledging:

• Endorse who they are
• Be their advocate
• Be direct, compassionate and respectful
• Focus on strengths
• Acknowledge their actions and results
• Celebrate success and even small wins
• Congratulate and give praise
• Be unconditionally constructive

Coaching Challenge:
Acknowledge at least one person, every day for a week. (Not the same person every day; Mix it up!) Observe how your relationships improve and what other benefits arise.

Coffee is the world’s second most valuable commodity: only oil beats out the bean. It is also a staple in most office environments. In honour of National Fair Trade Weeks, celebrated across Canada May 1st to 15th, we’re spilling the beans on how coffee purchases can become a practical and simple way to align corporate procurement decisions with progressive social values. (more…)

In keeping with this month’s coffee theme, we selected our favourites from pics compiled on this web site: http://pileofphotos.com/view/25/Have_a_little_fun_with_your_coffee. The original source of each photo can be found by clicking on the image. We challenge you to experiment with your own coffee art next time you’re searching for inspiration for a project or having a dull coffee break; creativity might work its way in with the caffeine.

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Perfect for any break-time office gathering, this deliciously simple coffee cake has a sweet family history; every Christmas morning a young Melanie Parish would gather with her grandparents, Sutter and Bubba, and her parents, brother, aunt, uncle and cousins for their traditional holiday egg dish and this coffee cake. Melanie’s family always made one cake with nuts and one without; the pecans for the nut-lover’s cake came from Bubba’s tree. According to family lore, the cake only tasted good when it was made at Christmas-time, but it’s definitely the best coffee cake recipe we know and we dare you to make it anyway! (more…)