Monthly Archives: December 2013

#208 – On the Cusp of New Beginnings

Thank you so much for the many wonderful replies I received in response to my announcement that I am transitioning from writing a weekly Tuesday Minute with Mary to writing on an occasional basis. It was very heartwarming to read your comments about this change and what my Tuesday Minutes have meant to you – thank you! After four years, this will be my last weekly Tuesday Minute. Starting in 2014, I will be writing An Occasional Tuesday Minute with Mary, with no predetermined schedule, just whenever the inspiration appears!

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#205 – Acknowledging a Great Leader

Last week’s post addressed the subject of acknowledgement. The recent death of Nelson Mandela is an opportunity to acknowledge a truly great leader whose life and accomplishments will have lasting meaning and impact. Nelson Mandela is a wonderful role model for leaders everywhere. He was confident without being arrogant. He was intelligent, strong, and courageous. He conducted himself with integrity, dignity and grace. He was charismatic and optimistic, an inspirational representative of determination. His vision and resolve were immutable. Continue reading

#204 – Insightful Acknowledgement

This is the third in a series devoted to the different types of positive communication. A good leader uses all of these regularly and frequently. We started with encouragement, and then addressed appreciation. This week the theme is acknowledgement.

Food for Thought ~

This type of communication is somewhat more complicated and subtle than the previous two. It requires slowing down enough to look beneath the surface of a situation and see the underlying motivations. This requires awareness, empathy and insight on the part of the leader. Generally speaking, an acknowledgement recognizes a person’s values, their ethics, their principles. Regardless of the manifestation of those values, whether the outcome is success or failure, the motivation underlying the behavior is what deserves to be acknowledged. A thoughtful and accurate acknowledgement can be a very meaningful, perhaps even profound, way to honor and appreciate someone. When you have done this well, an insightful acknowledgement is a gift that will long be remembered.

Question for the day ~

Have you honed your skills at acknowledgement?

A Footnote ~

As with the two previous types of positive communication, it is very instructive to recall our own experiences in order to remember how important these seemingly simple communications can be. If you have been the recipient of an insightful acknowledgement, you hopefully recall its power and meaning. If not, you may be aware of a time when its absence was noteworthy.

Mary