There are a lot of thankless jobs in the universe.
There are numerous times when you work really hard on a project and no one seems to notice.
There are copious ways to say “thank you” and not nearly enough situations where we take the time.
Not long ago I was standing in line, waiting to go through security at the Buffalo, NY airport (aka Buffalo Niagara International Airport). It was a typical line, cordoned off with stanchions and rope, providing the ‘opportunity’ for travelers to wind back and forth in a finite area to reach the actual ‘security station’, manned by the requisite TSA employees.
As I made my way through the roped off pathway, I noticed a group of people, outside the line, obviously awaiting the arrival of a passenger from an incoming flight. When I was going in the direction facing this group, I could see their home-made signs saying “Welcome Home Jeff”, “Welcome Back”, and additional signs that indicated this was a soldier returning from overseas. It was an excited group of family friends, and I thought to myself, “How cool is that and how thrilled they must be to be seeing ‘Jeff’ again.”
I saw lots of different folks arriving from the gate area, but apparently ‘Jeff’ was not among them. And then a strange and wonderful thing happened. I had just reached the actual security gate and was busily placing my laptop, shoes, bagged liquids and gels, etc. on the belt for x-ray purposes, when I heard a chorus of screams and the beginnings of applause. I could not see ‘Jeff’ or his welcoming party from where I was standing; I did observe all the people within my range of sight looking toward the area where the group had been standing.
And then, just as if it had been choreographed, everything ‘stopped’, all the security personnel (including those charged with viewing the x-rays) turned in the direction where ‘Jeff’ was being greeted. Spontaneously, everyone in the airport began to applaud, smiles appeared on the faces of the people in line, the TSA staff members, the folks working in the concession areas bordering the security gate area – everyone had a moment of connection, a moment of pride, a moment of sharing in appreciation for who and what this young man represented to the country.
It was a pretty amazing experience. It was both humbling and thrilling to be in a crowd of strangers and experience the emotion that connected us together for that brief moment in time, regardless of what our individual beliefs may have been regarding the reason for his being gone from his family and friends. I can’t even begin to understand what it must have felt like for young ‘Jeff’, but it had to be pretty ‘heady’ stuff. It certainly validated for me what the power of appreciation can do.
I wondered, in reflecting on the experience, how it would feel to members of our respective teams and/or organizations if they were applauded for what they contribute. How would our clients or customers, family members, or friends respond to an outward expression of appreciation that is both unexpected and genuine? Perhaps just taking the time to say ‘thank you’ is not only more powerful but more necessary than we tend to believe.
And then I remembered that this is happening every day in countries around the world, as communities and loved ones alike rally to say “thank you” to all the first responders, the healthcare workers, the many volunteers, who are on the front lines of the continuing battle against COVID-19. We see images in the news showing people carrying signs, waving in recognition of the continuing important work being done by so many during this moment in our world.
Who do you appreciate? Have you showed them lately, verbally or in other ways, that you are glad they are part of your team, your organization, your life?
