Make Me Feel Important

I write a lot about our personal responsibility for building the relationships we truly desire. The principles or action steps I share apply to the building of any relationship. These relationships may be personal (spouse, partner, children, friend, etc.) or they can be business oriented (customers, building sales, team development, etc.). The bottom line is it's all about relationships. It's all about the treatment of people.

My writings also focus on our tendency to make things far more complicated than they need to be. My last blog, "Don't Over Complicate It," is about our tendency to complicate things and where this might in part, come from. As I said in this blog, the simpler we make something, the easier it is to understand, and the easier it is to apply.

“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” ~ Confucius

I am frequently asked by clients what is my top recommendation for how they can start in their efforts to build their best relationships. I touched base on this in a blog I wrote back on September 1, 2015, called "Important Life Lesson – It's Not about Me!" I remembered the people I was around when I was feeling my best, about me. While I may not have even aware of it at the moment, the feeling stayed with me. I began to realize my feelings were the result of how I had treated. I summed it up in this blog in this paragraph;

Think of the people you admire most. I am willing to bet that in the conversations you have had with them, when you were feeling your best, it was probably one where their attention was on you. They made eye contact with you, asked you questions, got you to share with them what it was you were excited about, smiled at your accomplishments, and shared in your excitement about something you were looking forward to doing.

Now, think of the amazing results you can create when you treat other people in this manner in your daily conversations with them! (I have always admired the people who seem to be able to do this so naturally.) For many of us, we are in such a habit of talking about ourselves. As much as possible, make the conversation about them.

Need a memory jogger to help get you started? We know that people think in terms of pictures, of images. Here is an image for you: Whenever you are about to engage another person in conversation, visualize them wearing a large sign around their neck. On this sign are the words: MAKE ME FEEL IMPORTANT! Most people want to feel appreciated, to feel like they are being listened to, that they are being heard. Focus on them, hear and acknowledge what they are saying. Show you care, and above all, be sincere.

Understand and take responsibility for your role in creating the relationships you desire. You can make it happen! Keep it simple, don't over complicate it!

I would love to hear what you think about this, and would sincerely appreciate any feedback you are willing to share. You can do it here, or if you prefer, send me an email at: lwilliamson@anchoredvalues.com. Thank you in advance!