Celebrating the Small Victories: Say 'Thank You!'
Par Family Councils Ontario
One of the most important things you can say when trying to achieve a goal, carry out an initiative, or address an issue is 'Thank You!' These two simple words go a long way towards building relationships and supporting positive outcomes.
Celebrating and saying 'Thank You' at every step along the way of the process, not just at the end, is important. When bringing a concern or recommendation to the attention of the LTC Home's staff, there are many opportunities to say 'Thank You' along the way and build relationships. When you submit your concern form, you can thank your Administrator in advance for his/her attention on the matter, then say 'Thank You' again when you get a response back. If you're working on a project or requesting information from someone, you can thank them for their efforts, even when- perhaps especially when- they cannot help you at this time. Saying 'Thank You' along the way not only helps to build relationships, it also helps to remind everyone that you are making progress. It recognizes that you are continuing to work towards your goal.
Thanking your fellow Council members for their help in supporting your group, carrying out pieces of work to achieve shared goals, sharing their stories & ideas, and participating in conversations goes a long way towards building a Council with a strong group identity and spirit of collaboration. Thanking people for attending the meeting, sharing their ideas on a project, and for completing a task required to support the Council shows appreciation for the hard volunteer work done by Council members to achieve your ultimate goal: to improve the quality of life for people living in Long-Term Care.
You can also say 'Thank You' in more formal, organized ways such as a Staff Appreciation event or a special celebratory Council meeting. Family Council Week is a great opportunity to celebrate your work and relationships!
Party hats and cake are optional, but saying 'Thank You! should be thought of as necessary!