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Gratitude Is a Discipline
It takes time to say “thank you.”
And if there is one commodity that is always in high demand,
it is time.
Many people fail to say “thank you,” but not necessarily
because they are unaware of the investments others have made.
Perhaps they just don’t set aside time to make a phone call or write
a card. Yet making
time to express gratitude is one of the disciplines of moral
leadership.
During one of his European campaigns, Napoleon Bonaparte held
an awards ceremony.
With cannons still smoking from the previous battle and his
lieutenants in the command tent strategizing the next attack,
Napoleon gathered his troops to present medals.
Napoleon Bonaparte strongly believed that expressing
gratefulness was the key to motivating people.
He once said, “If given enough medals, I could conquer the
world.”
One of Napoleon’s officers chastised him for wasting time of
such niceties, saying such medals could be awarded after the
campaign was completed.
“These men give their lives for these medals!” snapped
Napoleon. And he proceeded to affix decorations to the soldiers’
uniforms.
Napoleon Bonaparte may not have been a model of moral
leadership, yet even the “Little Corporal” recognized gratefulness
as an important discipline of leadership.
Honoring those who deserve a word or a gift of gratitude
takes time. Much like
Napoleon’s officer, the voice of pragmatism suggests we wait until a
more convenient time.
However, it is rarely is ever convenient to stop and say “Thank you”
in a meaningful way.
Gratitude takes time.
It is the very inconveniences you overcome to say “Thank you”
that give meaning to the gesture.
The phone call, the hand-written card, or the hand-picked
gift – the fact that you made it a priority when other items could
easily have taken precedence proves the measure of your gratitude.
Gratitude is a discipline that takes time.
Take responsibility for expressing gratefulness, without
delay! Reserve on the Job
There is a clever expression: “If you cannot afford to
take time for a priority, make time for it.”
The force of this phrase underscores the importance of
accomplishing priorities in the face of difficulty.
However, the reality is that no one can make time.
We will always have to take time from other pressures
in order to give time to what is important.
This is the nature of discipline.
Gratefulness must not be relegated to a list of “unimportants”
that await convenient moments for attention.
Showing gratitude to those who have invested in you life and
work is a priority.
When you become aware of someone deserving gratitude, take time to
respond. If you need
to, actually schedule a block of time in your week to make calls,
write notes, or otherwise communicate your gratitude.
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