Monday Morning Stretch

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A weekly kick-off e-message from Katherine Eitel

to breathe life back into your practice, your team, and you!

January 3, 2011

Pocket Change

Want to turn a grumpy patient around? Or elicit a smile from someone instantly?

Praise them sincerely. Give them a compliment.

Human beings crave acceptance and recognition, and compliments provide both. It's easy to do and costs us nothing. So why don't we do it consistently?

I believe it's because, in the heat of the day, in the whirlwind of our lives, we simply ... forget. We forget about the power of compliments and praise and just fall out of the "compliment habit."

Here's a tip that has worked for me and many of you, I'm sure:

coins In the morning, put eight coins in your right-hand pocket. Move one of the coins to the left-hand pocket every time you give someone praise or a compliment. Your goal is simply to move all eight from the right to the left by the end of each day. When you begin to fall out of the "compliment habit," you'll be instantly reminded when you put your hands in your pockets and feel those coins rattling around!

Bring coins for every team member to your next team meeting and ask them to personally take on the "Compliment Challenge" for the next month. Then sit back and watch everyone enjoy the rewards.