CEO – Chief Encouraging Officer

The less there is of something in the world, the more valuable it becomes. Kevin Durant, Serena Williams and Tom Brady are worth a lot because there is nobody else like them on the planet.

The less there is of something in the world, the more valuable it becomes. Encouraging words are valuable because most of us live without them!

The less there is of something in the world, the more valuable it becomes. Encouraging words are valuable because most of us live without them! Click To Tweet

Think of it, if you want to make somebody blush, pay them a compliment.

Think of it, if you want to make people blush, pay them a compliment. Click To Tweet

If you really want to make them uncomfortable attach a specific example of greatness to your compliment and watch let them wallow in the warmth of your words.

FACT: When it comes to believing in themselves, most people are agnostic. Great leaders embrace the role as CEO – Chief Encouraging Officer.

When it comes to believing in themselves, most people are agnostic. Recognizing this, leaders should embrace the role as CEO - Chief Encouraging Officer. Click To Tweet

The real issue is limiting personal beliefs that are lodged deep inside the hearts of your people. Great leaders see their role as Chief Encouraging Officer as important as long term planning and executing strategy.

Encouragement doesn’t have to be elaborate, it’s more meaningful when it’s kept simple. The power of encouraging words isn’t in the eloquence of delivery but in the power of sincerity.

Encouragement doesn’t have to be elaborate. In fact, it's often more meaningful when it's kept simple. The power of encouraging words is not in their eloquence or expense, but in their sincerity. Click To Tweet

As Christian leaders we are called to be the hands and feet and voice of Christ in the world. Jesus is the ultimate encourager.

When most people looked at Mary Magdelene, they saw a prostitute. Jesus saw a Saint and that’s what she became.

When most people looked at Mary Magdelene, they saw a prostitute. Jesus saw a Saint and that’s what she became. Click To Tweet

When people looked at Peter they saw a hot-headed, fisherman with no small amount of Roman reticence. Jesus saw the first Pope and that’s what he became.

When people looked at Paul, they saw a Pharisee and a blood thirsty persecutor of the early Church. Jesus saw a heroic missionary and an apostle and that’s what he became.

One of the most powerful management principles I’ve ever committed to memory is this: people that feel good about themselves, produce good results.

One of the most powerful management principles I’ve ever committed to memory is this: people that feel good about themselves, produce good results. Click To Tweet

One of the great privileges of leadership is to recognize the dignity, worth and potential of others and communicate that to them so that they see it in themselves and act on it.

Can I give you a challenge? Every day stop by someone’s office or cubicle just to tell them they are doing a great job and give an example of their greatness.

Can I give you a challenge? Every day stop by someone's office or cubicle just to tell them they are doing a great job and give an example of their greatness. What gets recognized, gets repeated. Click To Tweet

Once you start looking for things to affirm in others, you will be amazed at how much ‘evidence’ of their greatness you can find every single day.

Once you start looking for things to affirm in others, you will be amazed at how much 'evidence' of their greatness you can find every single day. Click To Tweet

It may be that you honour someone based on the testimony given to you from one of your leaders. “Angela, everywhere I turn somebody else is telling me about the amazing work you are doing on the project. Your ability to keep things simple and always focused on the project deliverables is so valuable to the process. You have a lot of fans in this organization.”

That can be even more powerful because not only do you affirm the good but you communicate the unspoken message – their greatness is being talked about among the leaders of the organization.

Remember this: what gets recognized gets repeated.  Encourage someone today and watch what they do tomorrow.