Everything changed the moment Doug walked into the adult day care center where my wife volunteered. He had worked in management until his late fifties, when he suffered a stroke. Now he could no longer work.
Within two weeks of Doug’s arrival, the entire working environment (although it had always been a good place to work) had changed dramatically for the better. Clients and team members could not wait for Doug’s arrival each day.
Intrigued by the good reports, I paid a visit. Within a minute of my wife’s introducing me to Doug, Doug pointed at her and said, “Good job.” This didn’t only happen to her! It seemed like everyone’s encounter with Doug included these two wonderful words of encouragement – “Good job.”
A member of the team asked Doug: “Have you always been this encouraging to people?”
He responded immediately. “What happened heath wise to me shouldn’t change who I am.”
The highlight for me was the day my wife invited me to hear Elvis Presley sing at the adult day care center. Right after Elvis finished his first song, Doug walked up to him (in front of everyone) and said, “Good job.”
Doug’s interactions with Elvis made the popular singer so excited he stayed longer than originally planned. I heard Elvis songs that day he had seldom performed in public; but with such encouragement and support from Doug, the Elvis impersonator kept right on singing.
The adult day care center soon wove the phrase “Good job” into its DNA. Team members, clients, family members, and other visitors frequently used the phrase – all inspired by Doug’s example.
What an unbelievable difference a person can make through the generous use of two encouraging words. Even today, I can picture Doug standing in front of me to say those two unforgettable words – “Good job.”
Are there team members and other folks around you that could use a pat on the back or some encouragement? In particular, the front lines of those serving others often go day after day unnoticed and without recognition or encouragement. Just a couple of words spoken from the heart may just brighten someone else’s day and improve the overall environment more than one could ever imagine.