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The Apostle Paul wrote to Philemon that “Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints” (Philemon 1:7). What a wonderful tribute to Philemon. Wouldn’t you like someone to say that about you?
Well, we can all become encouragers if we decide to do some specific things for the purpose of encouraging others. Here are some more practical ideas that you can do on your job to encourage others:
- Smile! Did you realize that by a simple smile you could cheer someone up and encourage someone? Smiles are contagious and can brighten the atmosphere where you work. When talking to or passing by others, just turn up the corners of your mouth and flash them a radiant smile. Costs you nothing, and it could really make a difference in someone’s day.
- Greet people! As you enter the workplace, greet coworkers with a simple, “Good morning.” You never know the energy it took for others to arrive at work. A pleasant greeting can start a person’s day off right and possibly help them forget about their troubles.
- Be the Welcome Committee. When a new employee joins the staff, introduce yourself and offer to be of assistance. Help that person find his or her way around, offer to have lunch together. Think how comforting it could be to that new colleague, because being the new person can be challenging and a little frightening.
- Share your lunch. If you’re not working remotely, this is an easy way to get to know someone. Or if you baked something special and have some leftovers, bring it in for others to enjoy. Remotely, you could schedule a one-on-one zoom to catch up during lunch time.
You may think that these don’t sound that impressive or important, but it is so often the little things that we remember to do that touch someone else, helps them see they are not forgotten, and they are encouraged. Become an encourager on the job. It will make a difference.