Photo by Karsten Winegeart on Unsplash
A few years ago, Darcy Neymeyer, a school counselor at Villas Elementary in Fort Myers, Florida, shared photos of their novel concept: a “You Matter Cart.” Stacked with recently donated foods and drinks to be distributed to all staff members, the cart traveled around the school corridors telling their teachers, office staff, paraprofessionals, custodians and food service workers that they all mattered.
When we work day after day tirelessly, how fulfilling is it to hear from your colleagues and administrators that your work and effort is an important contribution to your community and the world? Gallup Polls reveal pitiful statistics suggesting that only 13% of employees working for an organization are actually engaged. The most dangerous thing for any human being is to believe they don’t matter. Our workplaces lack the ability to carve out time to recognize how their gifts are needed and essential to an organization. But there is a solution…
Simple words and actions have a colossal impact in your community; it is an essential part of our human DNA to feel needed. Imagine waking up in the morning, jumping out of bed and running to work knowing that your efforts are valued and indispensable to the company?
Next time you have an opportunity to give back to your employees, why not say or write these words: You are enough, you have influence, you are a genius, you have a contribution to make, you have a gift that others need, you are the change, your actions define your impact and YOU MATTER! These two words can change lives and change our world, if we understand them and we leverage them in the right way.
