Photo by Lorenzo Lamonica on Unsplash

Do you know what your love languages are? Gary Chapman identified five key ways in which we give and receive love. My top two are quality time and words of affirmation. I really enjoy spending time with other people. When I am hanging out with my family and friends, I feel loved. We can watch the hockey game or cook dinner. Simple and shared activities are joyful!

I also love to be affirmed. My sister recently wrote down thirty affirmations for my 30th birthday. Some of the qualities she included: I am good at art, that I have a heart of gold, and that I am compassionate. I have her birthday card with me on my table and I refer to it in prayer quite often. I called her and said how much I felt loved receiving these words of affirmation. She replied with some laughter, “Yeah, let me pump your tires, Trev.” She also considered it a good quality that I love to receive praise.

It meant a lot to receive those affirmations, so this season I’m trying to affirm others even more. At a recent performance evaluation, my supervisor also encouraged me to provide more affirmations when someone shares vulnerably in a faith study. “Thank you so much for sharing” and “That is a good reflection” can go a long way to build rapport for an online group meeting.

Words mean a lot. I’ve recently read the One Minute Manager and it talks about delivering the one minute praising—to catch others doing good behaviours and to praise them. I’m seeking to praise others both publicly and privately, as authentic as possible. As we grow in our leadership, as we work in a team, let us strive to affirm and praise others for the good things they are doing. When we use our words to build up others, we increase morale, achieve greater effectiveness, and build stronger team dynamics. 

Catch someone do good and praise them. Pump up their tires. We need to hear we’re on the right track.