Thirteen years have passed, and as I reflect on the journey, I am forever grateful for that singular lesson that one of my bosses taught me back then. I had the privilege of witnessing him apply it in various work circumstances and seeing the profound impact it had on people in both the short and long term. The experience left me in awe. Ever since, this lesson has remained etched in my memory, evolving into one of the most important life lessons I’ve embraced, both personally and professionally.
This lesson is simple yet powerful: no matter how big or small an endeavor or gesture, we must always acknowledge and show our appreciation to those who offer a helping hand. You may ask—what is special about this? It’s common sense and everyone should know about it. Yes, you’re absolutely right! What makes it stand out for me is the way my boss executed it—so simple, yet incredibly impactful and brilliant!
At that time, I was a young junior marketing executive, eager to learn and grow. I enjoyed observing my boss and assisting him with tasks he preferred not to do. I aspired to become a successful head of affiliate marketing, just like him. I was curious to uncover the secret behind his widespread popularity in the office. Whenever he needed assistance, people willingly dropped their tasks to help or, if unable, made his requests their top priority. Everyone consistently supported him in any circumstance, even standing up to the CEO and company founders, myself included. I genuinely admired and liked him, always eager and ready to assist whenever he asked. I couldn’t help but wonder—why?
The more I worked closely under him and observed his actions, the clearer his approach became to me. Suddenly, everything clicked into place and made perfect sense. Regardless of how big or small the assistance he received, he never failed to acknowledge the person who helped him. He not only expressed gratitude in person but also generously praised them in public settings, often in the presence of our CEO, clients, and colleagues. His appreciation never felt contrived; instead, it flowed naturally and sincerely from the heart. Those who received his compliments felt genuinely valued, knowing their contributions were recognized and respected. Meanwhile, those who witnessed his praise admired him even more for his genuine appreciation and leadership.
Let me provide a concrete example: A client visited our office after we achieved a significant sales milestone with them. During their meeting, my boss interrupted and called me in. He introduced me as the youngest and brightest star of the company, attributing part of that success to my contributions. Although I knew my contributions were not as significant as he made them out to be, his recognition of my efforts made me feel appreciated. As a result, I was motivated to contribute even more and developed a deeper respect and admiration for him.
He used this tactic on me quite often, and even though I became aware of it, it still felt nice when he recognized and thanked me for my work. Many of my efforts were done quietly, and thanks to his acknowledgments, they came to light, leading to my pay raise a couple of times.
Then I began emulating him but tailored it to fit my communication style and personality. It didn’t take long to see an immediate improvement in my relationships with colleagues. Suddenly, everyone wanted to collaborate on more projects with me, much like they did with my boss.
When a designer crafted an impressive landing page, I made it a point to showcase it to everyone in the office, ensuring they could appreciate his creativity. Similarly, when an analyst developed a system that enabled detailed ROI analysis for each traffic source, I made sure to generously highlight his name and the new system in relevant contexts.
More importantly, I also started applying this practice to my boss. Whenever I achieved a significant milestone at work, I made sure to publicly and privately thank him for teaching and guiding me. I acknowledged that without his support, I could never have reached where I was. Each time I expressed my gratitude, I saw a big smile and a proud grin on his face.
Life and circumstances have led us to grow apart. It’s been over 12 years since I left that company, and I haven’t seen him since. I’m not sure if he remembers the time he taught me that lesson, but I know he never anticipated its lasting impact on my life. It has become one of my most cherished life lessons.
The truth is, next to my father, he was the first person who explicitly guided, taught, and showed me valuable lessons on building business relationships. For that, I’m deeply grateful to him. Following his example, I’m now passing on this precious lesson and practice to others through this blog. Perhaps, it may inspire change in someone else’s life, just as it did in mine.
