The Art of Appreciation and Acknowledgment
Strengthening your skills in the art of appreciation and acknowledgement
is one of the most powerful tools that exist for social transformation.
We will almost always have more success when we praise, acknowledge, encourage and inspire people into their greatness
rather than criticizing or admonishing them for their shortcomings.
So appreciate yourself and others frequently in multiple ways.
Build people up towards what you know they can become and praise them every step of the way.
Here are a variety of ways in which you can exchange appreciations
with others – in pairs, small groups and large groups.
Listening Pairs:
One of my favorite ways to appreciate is through a listening partnership.
It works when one person in the pair is the listener and the other is the talker.
The listener only listens and the talker spends the entire time appreciating,
acknowledging and building up the listener. Then they switch roles.
Since, each person gets the same amount of time; it can be handy to use a timer.
Try doing this at least once a week in all of the relationships in your life that you want to go well
– family, friends, co-workers – anyone really.
Appreciation Mingle:
This works for groups of people. Have them mingle around with the purpose of giving every other person in the group one verbal appreciation (and a hug if appropriate).
Appreciation Bags:
People create paper bags decorated with markers etc. (with their name on the front) and display them in a common area.
Then everyone fills the bags with written notes of acknowledgement and appreciation.
Appreciation Sheets:
Have each person put his or her name on the top of a piece of paper and decorate the border.
Then have everyone in the group write an admirable trait or quality on each person’s sheet to express what they like/admire about them.
Then have everyone sit in a circle and read off his or her own sheets by starting with “I am” and then reading each quality out loud.
Pleased and Proud Appreciations:
Have people stand in a circle with one person in the middle of the circle. The person in the middle says
“I am pleased and proud that I” and says a self appreciation out loud.
Then, they say “I am also pleased and proud that the group” and says an appreciation for the group.
If the other members in the circle agree with that group appreciation, they need to change places in the group
while the person who started in the middle gets a spot in the circle and
leaves a new person to give their appreciations.
Appreciation Panel:
Have people stand in the shape of a big U.
Have people who are well appreciated in their lives been at one extreme in the U
and people who are not well appreciated in their life be at the other extreme in the U.
Then have the half of the people that experience more
appreciation in their lives shower the other half of the people with a
standing ovation of applause, yipping and hooting and whistling.
If the group is too sedate, encourage them to pretend that their favorite
sport team just won the biggest thing ever.
Then ask the receiving half how that felt.
Then have the receiving half switch and now give the raucous applause back to the other half of the group.
Mention how powerful it would be if we used the same amount of passion and energy
and resources we use to support the sports teams and celebrities we love, to cheer on and support
each other in our efforts to make the world a better place.
This can be done silently by sending loving energy as an alternative (with hugs if appropriate).
Appreciation Jar:
Have a group of people write affirmation/appreciations on small pieces of paper.
Write enough of them for one per day for the length of time you want them have the affirmations
- the next week, next month, and next year.
Put these in a beautiful jar or container.
Give this to the person as a gift and a remembrance of your caring.
To make it look good, put the affirmations on different colors of paper and fold them into fun shapes.
Thanks to Linda Seidel.
A Circle of Kindness:
Form a double circle with all group members, with one partner facing the center of the circle,
and their partner behind them (also facing the center, with their hands on the shoulders of the inner circle person).
The inner circle is asked to close their eyes, and only reply, “thank you” or keep silent.
The outer circle is asked to quietly talk into the ear of the inner circle participants, mentioning something important
that they learned from them or appreciated about them during the project, or a pleasant memory, or any other positive comment.
The outer circle then moves one person to the right and continues.
When the outer group has completed the circle, they are asked to become the center group,
and the process begins for a second round. Source www.teamworkandteamplay.com
Taking Turns:
Designate one person per hour or day or week or meeting time and have everyone shower them with appreciations
in all forms (verbal. email, cards, singing telegrams, you name it).
You can also begin or end all gatherings or meetings with verbal appreciations.
Secret Supporter or Secret Guardian Angel:
Assign all participants to be someone’s supporter or angel with the goal of
thinking of creative and secret ways to appreciate, encourage, support and empower their designated person.
Make this a secret until it is revealed at the end, or you may choose to not reveal the supporter or angel. T
his works best over a period of days (i.e. a multi day conference or camp).
Touch Someone Activity:
This is my favorite way to do group appreciations. Use it with JOY.
The activity offers an opportunity for people to anonymously appreciate others and
can lead to an increased sense of connection and respect in many groups.
Visit www.marilynlevin.com for a detailed description of how to facilitate the activity.
Scroll down and see Acknowledgment Activity link on the left panel.