Last week was about caring enough to give tough feedback.  This week is about the power of small gestures.

Let me take you back a few years.  I had graduated from our marketing rotational program and was looking for my first official role in the marketing world.  I had my heart and hopes set on market research, because I love sifting through chaos, connecting dots, turning insights into stories, and allowing my curiosity to run free.  I was lucky to land a role with a market research team.

After my boss officially hired me, we sat down together for the first time and he said something like, “I’m a big Kentucky basketball fan.  I think we need to do this right.”  He grabbed a piece of flipchart paper and wrote up a letter of intent and had me sign it was like I was a top college prospect.  We had someone snap a photo, and then he shared it with everyone as a way to say I had joined the team.  It was a little thing, but it makes me smile whenever I think of it.

What does this have to do with anything?  Can you think of a time when someone did something small to welcome you?  How did it make you feel?  This is a great example of how a small gesture can have a big impact on making someone feel welcome.  My boss didn’t have to do that.  I would have been happy just knowing I was part of the team.  However, by putting in a little extra effort he turned a routine moment into something special.  On top of that, he brought me in and made me part of his love for basketball.  It was that little extra energy, which set the tone for a great adventure with the market research team.  

The challenge: What small things can you do to help people feel more welcome and valued?

Have a jolly good day,

Andrew Embry