Help Me To Be An Encouragement To Others

24 Ways To Encourage Others – Giving Encouragement To People

Help Me To Be An Encouragement To Others

“Most of us,swimming against the tides oftrouble the world knows nothing about,need only a bit of praise or encouragement –

and we will make the goal.”

~ Jerome Fleishman ~

What Is Encouragement?

Definition: ENCOURAGEMENT : something that makes someone feel more supported: something that makes someone more determined, hopeful, or confident

: something that makes someone more ly to do something

Yesterday when I listed the Top 41 Lessons Blogging Teaches About Life And The Ways Blogging Has Changed Me, one of the things I talked about was how I knew I was loved. Feeling loved is powerful…very powerful.

Have you ever heard of times in the news when people did things that seemed impossible? I remember long ago when a boy was trapped under a car and the boy’s mother lifted the car AND pulled the boy out from under it. Sounded absolutely impossible, but it really happened. That was some powerful love.

Love is a powerful emotion that can help people do things they never dreamed they could accomplish.

One of the reasons that I talk so much about PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) is because when I was being tormented by it, I felt very alone.

It was bad enough teetering between feeling insane or an alien in my own skin, but to also feel lonely and alone was almost more than I could bear.

Because of that terrorizing, agonizing, depressing, scary, unhappy, sad, lonely period of my life, I think it is absolutely necessary for EVERYONE to understand PTSD.

Giving a person with PTSD encouragement helps them hang on and continue to fight the agony they feel. Most of the time it feels impossible to live another minute and the reasons to continue living don’t really feel that important. Encouragement helps a person feel more hopeful.

Even though a person may appear to be perfectly fine, they may actually be hurting inside. That is often true with people who are experiencing PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and depression.

There is something we all can do for people who are hurting.

There are many ways that we can give people hope and one of the easiest ways is to give encouragement regularly. That may sound vague and not that important, but encouragement is the emotionally equivalent to throwing a rope to a drowning man. Hope is empowering and since encouragement gives hope, you can help to empower someone who is hurting.

Here is a list of 24 easy and practical ways that you can give encouragement to people:

  1. Go to lunch or dinner together.
  2. Give the person praise publicly.
  3. Offer to do a task for the person.
  4. Spend time listening to the person talk.
  5. Ask the person how you can help them.
  6. Offer to babysit their children so they can get away for a while.
  7. Call the person often just to let them know you were thinking of them.
  8. Post a compliment or encouraging words on their wall.
  9. When someone is making changes in their life, notice and offer words of praise.
  10. Smile as you pass other people. You never know who needs to see a kind face to give them hope.
  11. Write a letter of commendation to the person’s boss.
  12. Write a note and put it in their lunch or leave a note on their desk.
  13. Give the person a gift.
  14. Give the person a hug.
  15. Give the person a compliment.
  16. Give the person an uplifting card.
  17. Give the person a motivational book.
  18. Give the person a gift card to a restaurant.
  19. Send the person chocolates.
  20. Send the person flowers/Give the person a single flower.
  21. Tell the person a funny joke.
  22. Tell the person that you love them.
  23. Tell the person you will pray for them.
  24. Tell the person that you appreciate them.

Having the opportunity to offer encouragement to another person is a privilege. Giving of yourself will not only help the other person, but a consequence of your unselfishness is that you will feel happier and better about yourself. Being encouraging doesn’t take that much time or effort for you, but it could mean the world to the person who is swimming against the tides of trouble.

Sherry Riter a.k.a. The Redhead Riter is Witty, Intelligent & Addictive. Having been to “Hell and back,” her passionate writing will inspire, motivate, educate and make you laugh. Sherry is ready to help you reach your full potential and Stop Living Comfortably Miserable.

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Источник: //theredheadriter.com/2015/03/24-ways-to-encourage-others-giving-encouragement-to-people/

3 Ways to Encourage Others to Be Confident

Help Me To Be An Encouragement To Others

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”

Everybody struggles with their confidence levels from time to time. We each have our own unique set of anxieties and insecurities. It doesn’t matter how attractive or unattractive we are, where we went to school or how much money we have in the bank. Everyone has something that makes them feel stressed, unsure of themselves, and generally uncomfortable.

The best thing we as human beings can do for each other is help someone else build up their own confidence. Sometimes all a person needs in order to feel more confident is to know that someone else has confidence in them.

Whether it’s a friend, relative, significant other, coworker, or even mere acquaintance, even the smallest of gestures can do wonders to improve another person’s confidence levels.

These barely scratch the surface, but here are three ways to encourage others to be more confident:

1. Celebrate their wins

Even the smallest ones. Make a point to celebrate every victory with someone. Your friend aced a test, rocked a term paper, or made a killer presentation at work? Tell them how awesome you think that is.

Vocalize the factors that led to their successes and helped them get their win. If it was a long road to victory, make sure they know that it was their hard work that paid off.

This will help them feel more confident going into future, similar situations in the future.

Make a point to say things : “Congratulations on nailing that presentation! You worked really hard on it and it paid off. That’s awesome and I’m really proud of you. Now let’s go celebrate!”

[clickToTweet tweet=”Help others to celebrate their small wins.” quote=”Help others to celebrate their small wins.”]

2. Compliment them often.

Now, I’m not talking about insincere compliments or small forms of flattery. As with the first situation I mentioned, it’s important to make sure you are freely and openly complimenting people as often as possible on the things they are doing well.

If you know someone who you think is a great writer, make sure they know how much you their writing. People tend to be highly critical of themselves, way more than others are of them in comparison, so it’s important to express appreciation and admiration for what they are doing.

Make a point to say things : “I just read that thing you posted. It was so well written! You have such a talent for this kind of thing. Keep up the awesome work!”

[clickToTweet tweet=”A genuine compliment goes a long way to inspire confidence in others.” quote=”A genuine compliment goes a long way to inspire confidence in others.”]

3. Listen to learn

This one is perhaps the most important of the three ways to encourage others to be more confident. If someone shares a personal story, anecdote, or secret with you about something they feel confident or insecure about, take the time to actively listen: affirm what you hear and ask questions to get a complete understanding of the situation.

Know that someone may tell you something that may not seem a huge deal to you, but it could be that person’s entire world. Their insecurities and anxieties may be creeping in and causing a lack of confidence. The rationale behind what they are thinking or feeling could very well be driven by deep-seated fears and in some cases, depression.

Only once you begin to understand the root cause of the issue can you begin to address their concerns with a deeper, more enlightened understanding. And only then will you be able to offer better advice and begin to instill a greater confidence in them.

Make a point to say things : “I know you’re feeling nervous about this presentation because public speaking makes you feel anxious, and because you’re afraid you will make a mistake in front of your peers.

Just know that we all feel super nervous about presenting, and if you do make a mistake, I’ll be there to support you.

I don’t think that will be an issue, though, because you’ve done all you can do to prepare, and I’m confident that you’re going to rock it tomorrow!”

[clickToTweet tweet=”To encourage confidence, avoid down-talking someone’s fears or insecurities. Simply listen.” quote=”To encourage confidence, avoid down-talking someone’s fears or insecurities. Simply listen.”]

As I said before, there are so many ways to encourage others and instill confidence in them, and these three ways just barely scratch the surface.

As long as you are mindful of the people you encounter, taking the time to openly honor and appreciate them and listen for the root cause of their problems and stressors, you’ll find it easy to fall right into the habit.

It requires very little effort in your part, and even the smallest gestures can go a long way to make someone’s day or pull them a bad mood or deep funk.

[clickToTweet tweet=”3 Ways To Encourage Others To Be Confident” quote=”3 Ways To Encourage Others To Be Confident”]

Tell me, what steps do you take to actively encourage others to be more confident? What do others do to make you feel more confident when the situation is reversed? Tell me in the comment section below!

Источник: //gentwenty.com/encourage-others-to-be-confident/

Be an Encouraging Person

Help Me To Be An Encouragement To Others

Sharing is caring!

It wasn’t so much the cheers as it was the presence of the people. And as we all crossed the finish line, exhausted, I knew that even though I was almost last, I had won. Helping our children know how to encourage others is a step in the right direction on the narrow path of godliness. {Deuteronomy 5:32}

Scripture Focus:Joshua 1: 1-9, Isaiah 41:10

Materials: a Choose Your Own Adventure Book (If you have younger children, choose a title from this series. If you have older children, choose a book from this series. I chose one that didn’t have aliens, or something that could be scary ghosts or kidnapping. I chose Grand Canyon Odyssey and read a few portions aloud.)

Free Poster:  Click on the image below and print.

Background: The end of Deuteronomy tells us about the death of Moses. His death was a HUGE deal. Think about it. All of these Isrealites only knew one leader. Those who had been in Egypt had died in the desert. This was a new generation of people who were ready to possess the Promised Land. But their Leader died. Now what?

Object Lesson on Encouragement:

{Hold up your chosen Adventure book.}

Choose Your Own Adventure books are neat to read. A story begins and then the characters end up having to make choices that change their circumstances. You, as the reader, get to make the choices for the characters and then read to see what the consequences are of the decisions.

{Read the Warning! page of the book. Then proceed to read a little bit of the story to get to a choice. Tell the kids the options and have them vote on a choice. Follow through with whichever choice they make. Allow this 2-3 times, but, if possible, do not finish the story. Make it a cliffhanger!}

Did you know that your life is a Choose Your Own Adventure Story?

Bible Lesson on Encouragement:

Every person has a story. It’s a great story.

Joshua from the Bible had a great story, too. Moses died and Joshua took over the leadership of Israel. Not only was he to lead the people, but he was to lead the people into the Promised Land and conquer the land. Joshua realized that God was asking him to do a hard thing. Moses had been an amazing leader. A courageous leader. He had been greatly used by God.

Joshua had to be intimidated by what God was asking him to do. The first chapter of Joshua tells us that God encouraged Joshua. God knew he was asking Joshua to do some hard tasks. But God wanted Joshua to know that he would be with him. Joshua would not be alone. Listen to God’s words:

Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.

Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” ~ Joshua 1:6-9 (ESV)

How encouraging!

God told Joshua these things:

  1. Be strong and courageous!
  2. You will get the land.
  3. Be strong and courageous!
  4. Be careful to follow the law. Don’t go to the right or the left!
  5. Meditate on the law day and night.
  6. Do these things and you will be successful!
  7. Be strong and courageous!
  8. Don’t be frightened!
  9. Your God is with you wherever you go.

Joshua’s life and the things God did with him are amazing! Joshua and the people DID conquer the land. Joshua WAS successful in all he did when he followed God’s law and walked in his ways. And God gives us the same encouragement.

Life Application for Encouragement:

{Hold up the book.}

Think about this book. How did it work? (As we read we choose what decisions are made, or what happens to the characters.)

As we live life, we make decisions. In fact, everyday we make decisions. Some are small and of no real consequence, such as choosing to eat cheerios instead of oatmeal. However some choices have great consequences, such as choosing to not keep up with your backpack and you lose your school stuff, or being disrespectful to your dad. Different situations have different consequences.

God is with you everywhere you go hoping you will choose the right choice so you will have successful consequences. Verse 7 says: Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.

Turn from what? (God’s law) Where do we find God’s law? (The Bible) What should we do so we know what the law is? (Read the Bible) Will reading the Bible mean we will always be successful? (***Allow for answers, then explain that we will fail…in our eyes, and the world’s eyes, at times.

But if we really are following God’s ways, then we will not fail at what GOD wants us to do.)

God is giving you the same encouragement that he gave Joshua —->

  1. Be strong and courageous!
  2. Don’t worry. I have an amazing plan for you!
  3. Be strong and courageous!
  4. Stay in my word and follow it! Meditate on it!
  5. Be strong and courageous!
  6. I will be with you wherever you go!!

If God gives us this kind of encouragement, and we desire to be godly people, then that means we must give this same encouragement to OTHER people.

{Give an example of people encouraging you in your own life. My example–>} When I was in college I had to run 1.5 miles within a certain time frame so I could keep my scholarship. I was on the last lap and I thought my legs would turn to jello.

I had just over half a lap left when they came. They’d already finished their run. One was on my right. One ran on the grass at my left. And one ran directly behind me. They began to shout encouragement at me as all 4 of us ran and then sprinted toward the finish line.

I made it! And it was with the encouragement of those who chose to run WITH me!

Did Joshua have an easy time clearing out all those people from the promised land? Absolutely not! He had to guide thousands of men into battle. Was it Joshua who made the walls of Jericho fall? Was it Joshua who made the sun stand still?

No.

God asks us to do hard, impossible things so HE can glorify himself and make his name known.

Making decisions can be hard. Encouraging others in our lives can be hard. But God asks us to do the hard things. Trust him. Be strong and courageous!

What can we learn from Joshua and God’s message to him? If we want to be godly, then we must choose to be encouraged and encourage others.

{Display the poster in the room throughout this series and read it each week.}

Lesson Extension for Youth:

Discuss the definition of “spiritual discernment.” What is it and how do we get it? Have the students use commentaries and concordances to search for other verses that help build understanding in decision making skills. Then have students discuss how they can use spiritual discernment when encouraging others.

This lesson has been UPDATED and is a part of my book Walk This Way: Ethics and Sanctification Lessons for Kids. CLICK ———> HERE for more information

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Источник: //www.futureflyingsaucers.com/be-an-encouraging-person-growing-in-godliness-series-for-kids/

7 Ways to Sincerely Encourage Your Employees

Help Me To Be An Encouragement To Others
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Encouragement is not praise. Done well, encouragement can lead to success for an employee — at which time praise is appropriate.

You see, encouragement is the act of providing positive feedback that focuses specifically on effort and/or improvement, rather than specific outcomes. Praise is given when success has been achieved.

The ability to successfully encourage others through periods of difficult times and lack of progress is both a science and an art.

 There are techniques that you can use that will provide encouragement but they are only helpful if you are using your emotional intelligence during the process.

 Emotional intelligence includes the ability to adeptly read and respond to the emotional needs of others. Keen observation of body language, choice of words and interaction with others will be helpful in this process.

Here are seven techniques I recommend managers use to help encourage their team members:

1. Ask them what help they need

Often times the simple question of “How can I help?” will start the process of encouraging an employee. Timing of this simple, but powerful, question is important and requires you have good observation skills.

Watch and listen for changes in behavior, choice of words and body language. These can be hints that an employee is becoming discouraged and frustrated.

And often all the help they need is talking through the situation and having an empathetic ear to listen to their challenges. 

Related: Company Culture Comes From Good Leadership

2. Coach them to discover choices.

When an employee gets stuck and isn’t making the progress they expect, frustration sets in.

When you observe an employee frustrated, first reinforce the confidence you have in them previous accomplishments, skills and behaviors. Start asking them questions that will help them see how to become “unstuck.

” Ask enough questions for them to develop their own options on how to become successful. A little coaching can go a long way.

3. Recognize their small incremental wins.

These wins will include behavior change and skill mastery. Wins are not tasks that don’t demonstrate change.

Managers often forget that the small wins deserve recognition so that employees know that they are making progress toward their bigger win.

Recognizing positive change reinforces the employee’s understanding of what they need to continue doing. Don’t wait for the big wins, look for the small and recognize them, and more will come.

Related: Cultivate These 5 Attributes to Turbocharge Team Performance

4. Thank them.

A leadership best practice often overlooked is thanking and praising employees six times for every time feedback is provided requiring change and adjustment from an employee.

There are times when work effort may not equate to expected results.

Just a long distance runner being handed water during the race, this is your opportunity to thank them for their efforts, yet remind them that they haven’t yet reached the finish line.

5. Demonstrate your confidence in them.

When you practice encouragement, don’t keep it behind closed doors. Take the opportunity during meetings to practice encouragement so others can learn the art and science of it.

Share their small wins with other team members, and ask others to recognize the small wins of team members. As time progresses, it should become more natural for team members to recognize each other’s contributions.

The goal is to create viral encouragement.

Related: How to Motivate Your Team Members by Putting Their Needs First

6. Put them on stretch assignments.

Stretch assignments should be designed to:

  • Provide a higher level of visibility
  • Build on the strengths of the employee
  • Develop new skills
  • Assist the employee to advance towards their desired role in the organization

When you match a stretch assignment to the right employee, not only are you encouraging your employee, you are developing them for the future.

7. Help them get recognized by others.

Become your team members’ advocate. Share their work and accomplishments by communicating to other parts of the organization how their work has helped the organization get closer to the company vision or reinforced the values of the company.

External recognition is just as important. If they have done stellar work, look for opportunities to nominate them for local professional awards. Local business newspapers and magazines often look for stories of professionals’ accomplishments.

Done consistently, encouragement will become a part of your culture. As a leader, when you model and practice encouragement techniques, your employees will start encouraging each other. When a company embraces encouragement, success follows. What do you plan to do differently to encourage your employees?

Источник: //www.entrepreneur.com/article/295980

Bible Verses Of Encouragement For When Times Are Hard

Help Me To Be An Encouragement To Others

We all have times in our lives when nothing seems to go quite right.

Your car breaks down, then you get sick, and then your basement floods. One problem leads into another.

Our family is going through one of these times right now as we speak.  We’ve been having family health issues galore, with several visits to the hospital and quite a few other smaller issues popping up all at once.

It isn’t fun to deal with, but when you have faith, you can find strength and encouragement in the Bible.

Today I thought I would look at some of the Bible verses that have encouraged us lately.

Bible Verses of Encouragement That Give Strength

God has encouraged us that if we believe in Him he will give us strength, no matter what we’re dealing with.  Here are a few verses that speak to the strength and encouragement we can find in Him.

 God does not give us everything we want, but He does fulfill His promises, leading us along the best and straightest paths to Himself. –Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

Matthew 6:34  Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you;my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Psalm 55:22  Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.

For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Psalm 9:9-10 The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

Psalm 34:10b Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

Isaiah 26: 3-4 Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace—because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord God you have an everlasting rock.

1 Chronicles 16:11  Seek the LORD and his strength;  seek his presence continually!

Psalm 32:7-8 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Deuteronomy 31:8 It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.

Bible Verses of Encouragement That Bring Comfort

God doesn’t always take away the pain or suffering that we’re dealing with, but he does give us comfort in the midst of those troubles.

Psalm 55:22  Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

Psalm 121:1-2  I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Isaiah 49:13 Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted.

Deuteronomy 31:8 It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Psalm 9:9 The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.

Matthew 11:28-29 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Psalm 23:4  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;  your rod and your staff,  they comfort me.

Bible Verses of Encouragement And Peace

Be encouraged because we can look to him to find the peace that we so lack in this life.

The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, ‘O God, forgive me,’ or ‘Help me.’ –Billy Graham

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Philippians 4:6-7 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

Romans 8:6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

God’s Promises Can Encourage Us And Give Hope

God has made a multitude of promises to those who follow Him, and we can be encouraged by those promises.  Here are a few of my favorites.

God has made promises to those who follow Him, and we can be encouraged by those promises.  Click To Tweet

  • God has promised us eternal life if we believe in him:  John 6:47 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.
  • God is faithful to His children:  Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations
  • God has promised to hear our prayers:  Psalms 4:3 Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him.
  • God has promised to guide us: Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

More Resources To Strengthen And Encourage

Here are a few more posts that give insight into how the Bible looks at certain topics.

Источник: //www.biblemoneymatters.com/bible-verses-of-encouragement/

Ways to Encourage Employees to Help Each Other

Help Me To Be An Encouragement To Others

A cooperative culture featuring generous employees helping each other is a key success factor for innovative and effective organizations.

The two mechanisms for such generosity is the pay-it-forward approach, where someone who has been helped helps another person, and reputation rewarding, in which employees with a reputation for helping others are rewarded with help when they need it.

New research from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business shows that both mechanisms are effective, but paying it forward will have a longer lasting impact on the organization.

Idea Summary

In a world of business in which cooperation is often the key to success, many companies overlook the damage that infighting, extreme competition or knowledge hoarding by employees can cause to sales, profits and effectiveness.

At the opposite end of the scale are the organizations that encourage and facilitate employee cooperation and generosity.

Employees look for ways to help each other — an approach known as generalized reciprocity: being helped and in turn helping others.

There are two types of generalized reciprocity. One is ‘reputation rewarding’ — in this case, someone who has a reputation as being helpful to others is going to receive more help from others than someone who does not have a helpful reputation. This can lead to some strategic generosity: you help others to build your reputation and ensure that you will be helped yourself in the future.

The second type of generalized reciprocity is ‘pay it forward’ — the concept of pay it forward is that someone helps you, and you in turn help a third person.

Both mechanisms can be effective. An important drawback to reputation rewarding, however, is that a person’s reputation is ephemeral. If it’s been some time since the person has assisted someone, the assistance becomes forgotten in the workplace and, rather quickly, the person is relegated to the ‘unhelpful colleague’ category.

A further drawback is that reputation rewarding is keeping track of your fellow employees behaviour (that is, whether or not they are being generous). With pay it forward, what counts is your own experience, which is simpler and more salient than keeping tracking of what others have done.

That said, the research shows that the two types of generalized reciprocity work well together.

Pay it forward, motivated by the ‘positive effect’ of gratitude rather than by self-interest and strategic consideration, does have a longer and more lasting impact in building a generosity-driven culture.

Nevertheless, the cycles among employees of reputation rewarding and of paying it forward lead to a sustained virtuous cycle of cooperation.

Business Application

To enable and energize this virtuous cycle of cooperation among employees, companies need to put in place practices and systems that spark both mechanisms. 

Create opportunities to establish and make visible the norms in your company for asking for help, giving help and reciprocating help. Scheduling regular employee meetings similar to IDEO’s, ‘brainstorming’ and ‘Monday morning’ meetings for example, can help set the stage for reciprocity. 

Also, reward and/or recognize employees who have helped others. This can be as simple as publicizing acts of generosity or expressions of gratitude in a company newsletter, or ending meetings with an invitation to those in the room to express any appreciation for help they have received.

More formal programs, such as Southwest Airlines ‘agent of the month’ award given to those who have helped others succeed, are also effective.

A peer-to-peer bonus system encourages helpful behaviour by allowing employees to recognize their peers.

Google, for example, rewards those who has helped someone with a token payment, plus an additional payment that must be paid forward to recognize a third person, thus incorporating a pay-it-forward component to the system.

For large corporations, the challenge of encouraging helpful behaviour is compounded by a dispersed workforce.

These barriers of distance — as well as the organizational silos common in large corporations — can be surmounted thanks to company-sponsored online communities in which your employees can share knowledge and respond to requests for help.

Oil giant ConocoPhillips believes its knowledge sharing communities has saved the company up to $100 million. While ConocoPhillips offers some compensation for participation in the communities, employees also use the system voluntarily.

Monetary rewards, such as ConocoPhillips’ variable compensation or Google’s token payments, can encourage and recognize generosity, but through the mechanisms of paying it forward and reputation rewarding, the greatest motivation for employees to offer help is internal. The job of organizations is to facilitate such generosity in any way possible. 

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Источник: //www.ideasforleaders.com/ideas/ways-to-encourage-employees-to-help-each-other

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