An awesome way to make an impact in the world is in blossoming people. People are given a ton of crappy messages all throughout their life. People are told that they’re not good enough, not skilled enough, not good looking enough, not smart enough, and more. As a result, most people are all closed up.
Where it Starts
This starts in the home. Parents tell us we need to sit up, and eat right. Some of us are told that we’ll never amount to anything, and that we’re not smart enough. Sure our parents mean well, but all the messages about correction and improvement leave us feeling icky as we are always found lacking.
Then we go to work, and the evaluations we get aren’t any better. We’re told we were great, BUT here’s a list of all the things that need improvement. We are forever feeling like we’re not enough.
With a set of environments like this, a person can enter into their 30’s or even older and never had anyone ever believe in them. Often, all it would take is for someone to genuinely believe in them and their heart would sing, and their life would soar.
Blossoming
Blossoming people is about believing in someone in the context of a strong positive relationship. It’s believing in the person even when they don’t believe in themselves. It’s also about having high expectations, being encouraging, and really celebrating the wins.
Blossoming can happen a lot of ways, but it always requires a personal connection. Often when you share your high expectations and belief in the person, the blossoming is enhanced with a touch or eye contact. There is a difference between a boss saying, “I have high expectations of you,” and a person we respect and trust saying with a touch, “I know you can do this.” The boss’s statement is almost a threat because it comes with the weight of his authority and ability to have you fired. The respected friend’s statement is encouraging and compelling.
Know that bosses can blossom their people, but they have to be extra careful, that it doesn’t come across as a threat. Threat’s don’t blossom, rather they tear down, and close up people.
Imagine
What could happen if someone decided to blossom inner city kids – on purpose, every day. What could those kids become?
What could happen if managers around the world blossomed their people? What would that do to work place productivity?
What could happen if you blossomed your own kids? What could they become?
What could happen if you got into the regular habit of blossoming a few folks at a time in your world, in powerful mentoring relationships?
We need more blossomers in the world. When was the last time someone believed in you? When was the last time you expressed your belief in someone else and blossomed them?
