The Power of Acknowledgment ~

Here is a wonderful email I received after conducting a workshop at Thomson Reuters, New York at which I asked participants to write a heartfelt, sincere acknowledgment to someone from their professional career, who they had not previously acknowledged with generosity and gratitude:

Hi Judy -

Guess what? I did read my note to my boss and I could tell that he was deeply moved by it. And being the genuinely good person that he is, he immediately turned it around and told me how he appreciated everything that I did, and how I was one of only three people (in a cast of hundreds) who made the current, very complicated (global) program we have right now a success. (That was quite stunning to hear also. My boss is not the effusive type. He’s quiet and a man of few words.)

But yes, he sat there and listened to me as I read the note and later, when I told him about what you said about bosses in his level not getting many thank you’s – he said, “Yes, that is true. I do not get many of those.”

Well, I would like to thank you for giving me the chance to finally express my gratitude to my boss. It was…extra special.

Thanks so much!
Jackie Duerr, Program Manager
Thomson Reuters

Well thank you, Jackie, for sharing this wonderful and important reminder to us all to not exlude our bosses from the Power of Acknowledgment.  Those leaders who deserve it, deserve to get it. Please send my acknowledgment to your excellent leader as well!