This week, I’m continuing with the theme of nurturing your network from Edition 110 (which you must read if you missed it last time as I got a lot of positive feedback) but we’ll focus on not broadening but deepening your relationships.
There’s no better way to deepen relationships than by genuinely celebrating others. This requires us to step out of the narcissistic bubble we may unconsciously be wrapping ourselves in.
“Promise yourself today to be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.”
Many famous people prioritize celebrating others. Oprah is known for her generosity and for celebrating the achievements of others. She has often used her platform to uplift and highlight the work of others, from authors to activists to everyday people making a difference in their communities. Her Book Club is well known to have changed the fortunes of unknown authors!
Taylor Swift is known for being supportive of her fans and fellow musicians. She frequently interacts with fans on social media and has been known to surprise them with gifts and personal messages.
Richard Branson is often seen celebrating the successes of his employees and colleagues, and he is known for being approachable and encouraging.
Arianna Huffington spoken about the importance of celebrating small wins and creating a culture of appreciation and recognition in the workplace.
What was the inspiration for this week’s edition? I recently celebrated my birthday. It was wonderful to receive so many different birthday greetings from my family and friends. I analyzed how each message, each gift, each call made me feel. What did I conclude? When the other person is genuinely celebrating me, I can feel it so clearly and it certainly draws me closer to them. When you put time, thought and effort, it shows. It made me realise how important it is to take time out from our busy schedules to celebrate others and celebrate them more often.
What are some of the ways in which you can celebrate others?
Say it with words
Nothing better than walking up to someone and expressing your appreciation, congratulations, gratitude. So easy to do right? Just walk around your office or home and find a way to do this more often. Even better if you can add a physical touch element (with due caution of course). It’s so rewarding to light up others!
Send a thoughtful message
I really miss old fashion paper cards. No better way to share a thoughtful message than picking out the right card and penning a few words. There are online card sites, Canva and others you can use as substitutes for the real thing. Also, just a few words on text with or without emojis would work well. The important bit is to be considered and customized in what you want to say and how you want to make the other person feel. Don’t bother to send out a hurried “Happy Birthday!” or “Congrats!” to tick the box. Nothing screams lack of care more than a generic message like that. Address the person by their name, write a few sentences, and don’t forget to infuse the message with warmth and care.
Give a gift
For the special relationships, make an extra effort to send something. It’s so easy to order flowers online no matter which city people live in. In the same city of course, the choices are endless. Many of the e-commerce brands like Amazon and Tata Cliq Luxury make gift certificates super easy. Gift certificates for day-spas or home-spas are increasing in popularity as well. A personalized gift is the most special. An intern of ours crocheted me an exquisite purse and gifted it to me when her internship ended. The purse and the beautiful sentiments expressed in a handwritten card are amongst my cherished possessions.
Host a celebration
When you want to kick it up a notch, host a celebration! Throw a birthday party. Host a baby shower. Organise a group getaway to celebrate a friend’s success. The possibilities are many. You just have to get creative! The generosity and effort you put into hosting a celebration like this for someone special can go a long way in deepening your relationship.
Share their success on social media
You may be posting birthday wishes for friends and colleagues on social media but can you take to it more often to celebrate their achievements as well? Assuming they are fine with it of course. This is one I’d like to try more often to celebrate those in my network.
Make time
More often than not, the biggest gift you can give is the gift of your time, your attention and love. If you have to prioritise one way of celebrating others, make it this one.
Celebrating others is all about showing appreciation and recognition for their accomplishments and contributions. Find a way that feels authentic and meaningful to you, and the recipient is sure to feel valued and appreciated.
It is a powerful way to build relationships, boost morale, spread positivity, and encourage collaboration. It's a simple yet impactful way to show appreciation and support for those around us.
Over to you now:
When was the last time you celebrated someone in a unique way? How did make you feel? How did it make the other person feel?
Can you develop a system to celebrate others more often?
What other ways can you celebrate a friend’s or colleague’s achievements?