She was buying apples.

Merrily humming a tune as she selected the fruit for her basket at the supermarket.

I heard her before I saw her, but when I looked her way, I couldn't help but exclaim,

‘Gosh. Your outfit is so colourful. You look simply radiant!’

She was an older lady, a senior citizen with a vibrant, vivacious outfit, rosy red painted cheeks and lips and perfectly coiffed hair. You could tell she enjoyed making an effort to look and feel her best.

In response, she clasped her hands together in a gleeful manner and said,

‘Oh how darling of you to say! You’ve made my day.’

And with that she turned and strode away, humming as she went.

I did not know this lady. She was a stranger in the supermarket, but I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to share in her fabulousness.

I thought of this moment again today when delivering a session in my Coaching skills for leaders program. The module was about acknowledgements, and how they are the missing link in our coaching arsenal.

Coaching people to be their best is not just about closing gaps; It’s also about celebrating their strengths, reflecting back their brilliance and reinforcing what’s working well.

It’s amazing how much more committed, engaged and focused people become when they feel seen and celebrated for the amazing humans they are.

So I’m curious… who in your team has received your appreciation and positive attention this week?

Why do you value them?

And when do you plan to tell them?

And as a poetic aside, (or, perhaps a way to showcase the new skill set of how to acknowledge the what as well as the why of great performance), one of the participants sent me a message in the chat box, that read:

"I admire your positivity and the way you guide the sessions using examples. It's important as it brings the scenarios to life and allows us to discuss how we can apply it in our coaching to deliver improvement across our teams and our broader organisation."

- G. Martin, Director Strategic Relationship, Australia Post

*Blushing.

All the feels from this comment… and way to turn the tables on your instructor. :) Let the student become the teacher!