Giving Gifts vs. Being A Gift

Thanksgiving, leading into Black Friday, and on towards Christmas is the most commercialized and materialistic time period in my culture. Although I resisted the urge to take advantage of those super “too good to be true” deals on Thanksgiving night, I did spend some time shopping on Friday.

I also spent a lot of time with family this past week reflecting on what we are grateful for, and nurturing relationships that sustain us far beyond the material things. What I realized is that giving that perfect gift is great, but being a gift to my family, friends, and co-workers is so much more important. Do you want to be a gift to those around you this holiday season?

Do more of…

• Affirming the positive qualities in others
• Listening, asking curious questions, and showing interest in others
• Making promises and keeping them
• Sharing what’s really on your heart; joys, fears, aspirations, dreams
• Being vulnerable and transparent
• Being still, being present

Do less of…

• Talking about yourself
• Waiting for others to stop talking so you can talk more about yourself
• Noticing what’s missing or what’s wrong
• Being late, being rushed, being distracted
• Worrying about everything being just right
• Worrying about what others think

Here’s a great Ted Talk by Simon Sinek on how great leaders create environments where people feel safe.

Copyright Next Element Consulting, LLC 2016

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If you are going to buy a gift, here’s one that helps you be a gift as well!

Conflict Without Casualties: A Field Guide for Leading With Compassionate Accountability. This book is the foundation for our Leading Out of Drama program, a comprehensive guide for balancing compassion and accountability to build relationships that are safe, curious, and consistent.

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