Appreciating & Being Appreciated

I’m not expecting anything from the CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) I thought as I opened the bright white A4 envelope. “Please do not bend” said the letters on the front, accompanied by the CIPD logo and I was intrigued to see what was inside.

I found a letter thanking me for being a member of the organisation for 20 years together with a certificate to say that they recognise that I have “provided exceptional service to human resources and people development for over 20 years.”

Wow, what a wonderful surprise! Firstly, that I have been a member for 20 years (where did that go?) and secondly, that the CIPD have taken the time and effort to send this to me.

It is often a small yet unexpected gesture that can make us feel special and appreciated as a customer, a business contact or as a friend.

The theme of appreciation came up in a recent coaching session that I was having with my coach. We were talking about confidence and self-belief and a particular block that I have been having with one of my goals.

We explored how we need to appreciate ourselves for others to appreciate us and, not just appreciate things that we do, but appreciate who we are.

The word appreciate means to value, to grow and to increase in value.

The wording of this certificate is wonderful and has made me reflect on how I have provided exceptional service; how I have helped people to grow, to realise their potential and to achieve results that have an impact on their businesses and on their lives.

I can appreciate what I have done and that it is who I am as a coach, a trainer and as a person that has enabled me to do that. As I appreciate myself, my appreciation increases (in value), I grow in value and my self-belief grows too.

How do you appreciate yourself as, in the words of Sonya Friedman – “The way you treat yourself sets the standard for others.”?

I would be interested to hear your thoughts.

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